Navarrenx is a delightful little bastide town, situated in the beautiful Béarn region. It was awarded prestigious Plus Beau Village status in 2014
Navarrenx is a delightful little bastide town, situated in the beautiful Béarn region. It was awarded prestigious Plus Beau Village status in 2014. Bastides or fortified towns and villages laid out in a grid pattern are to be found all across the South West of France and Navarrenx is a fine example. Navarrenx is one of the oldest cities in the province with the earliest history of the site dating to 1st Century. It is recorded in a medieval manuscript of the eleventh century under the name of ‘Sponda-Navarrensis’ meaning ‘edge of the Navarre’. In the 13th century, Gaston VII ordered a stone bridge to be constructed to facilitate crossing of the Gave d'Oloron. The town became heavily fortified in 1538 under Henri II d'Albret, King of Navarre and sovereign of Bearn. Many of the defense mechanisms are still present: the 10 meter high ramparts are classified as an historic monument. Bastions and military buildings within the walls remain today. The fortifications were tried and tested during religious wars under the reign of Jeanne of Albret, when the garrison under the command of the Baron of Arros successfully resisted a three-month siege in 1568. Navarrenx is not only famous as a bastide but has since the Middle Ages been a resting place for pilgrims travelling to Saint Jacques de Compostella (Camino de Santiago). Over 12,000 each year still pass to this day and they are entitled to a ‘Menu Pèlerin’ (a pilgrim’s meal) at the Taverne Saint Jacques. As they pass through the Porte Saint Antoine and cross the bridge only another 543 miles to go!
Size: 6720px × 4480px
Location: Navarrenx, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France
Photo credit: © Roger Hollingsworth / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
Keywords: bastide, bearn, beau, beautiful, defence, fance, fortification, france, navarrenx, nouvelle-aquitaine, pilgrim, ramparts, town, village, wall
