Close to the walls. by kokoryko
Let us get closer through this postern (fortified door) on the Northern side of the Chateau; the peaks here are recent ones, but I can imagine the rusted ones from the middle age. . . The Tour Billère (picture 2) is in front us, construction of stones, bricks and pebbles, these last ones a traditional construction material in Bearn, where they are removed from the fields (the plough then, gets better through) piled on the borders of the fields and then transported to places where they are used for building purposes.
With the chateau on our right side we walk in the former trench which surrounded it and come opposite of the main entrance where the Donjon looks impressive (picture 3).
Then you arrive on the southern side of the chateau where the path is laid out with arbours, and where you pass by ?la tour de la monnaie? (picture 4), an outpost fortified tower. Nowadays there is a lift in this tower allowing direct access to the Chateau from the parking located near the Gave River down the Chateau.
And finally we arrive at the west side where we have a view at the Mazeres and Louis Philippe towers from close, and we meet Gaston Phébus, an emblematic character in Bearn History. Gaston Fébus (or Phébus), built the brick donjon and left a signature on one of its walls: Gaston mé fé (Gaston m?a fait in French, Gaston made me in English). Gaston Phébus, also known as Gaston de Foix, was, in the 14th century, during the 100 years war between France and England, ruler of territories which ?belonged? either to the king of France or the King of England, and managed to keep integrity of Bearn.
