Vieux Château, Medieval castle in Mauléon-Licharre, France
Vieux Château is a castle built on elevated ground with three corner towers and stone walls. A three-arched bridge spans the defensive moat that once surrounded the fortress.
The fortress was originally built in 1261 and remained under English control for centuries. Gaston IV of Foix reclaimed it for France in 1449.
The courtyard displays a mix of dressed stone in lower sections and roughly cut stone in the upper tower parts. This visible contrast shows how the building was constructed and modified over time.
Visitors should allow time for steep stairs and uneven surfaces, as the structures are very old with irregular pathways. Sturdy shoes are recommended to navigate safely through the different levels of the fortress.
A well 29 meters deep sits in the castle courtyard, revealing how the inhabitants met their water needs long ago. Narrow passages beneath lead to ancient dungeons that show the fortress's long defensive history.
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