FORTIFIED CASTLE PYRENEAN MUSEUM
The castle, which recounts the history of Lourdes, houses the Pyrenean Museum, which presents daily life in the Pyrenees from the to the century.
Proudly dominating the city, from the top of its 144 steps, the castle is a major witness of the history of the city. Classified as a historical monument in 1995, it houses the Pyrenean museum. Founded in 1921 by Louis and Margalide Le Bondidier, it presents the daily life in the Pyrenees from the 18th to the 20th century. A room on the Pyrenean fauna allows you to discover the most emblematic animals of the region, another one shelters a magnificent collection of costumes coming from Ariège to Aragon, and a more unusual one of period surjougs. The castle has been the residence of the Count of Bigorre, a medieval fortress, a royal prison and a garrison, and has been modified many times. Several defensive architectural elements testify to this first-rate military post, such as the drawbridge, the cistern, the fortified gate with its portcullis and its stunner, and the keep. Its current appearance is the result of three successive lines of defense as well as the modifications made by Vauban in 1685 and the Military Engineers in the 19th century. Following the covered way, you will reach the Pointe du Cavalier Sud, an artillery platform, which offers a magnificent panorama of the city, the sanctuary and the high peaks. Finally, on the terrace, children will appreciate the botanical garden and the models representing the traditional habitat and religious architecture. The youngest will be able to solve riddles thanks to the Randoland game cards that accompany the tour.
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