Espelette Castle, château à Espelette (Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
Espelette Castle is a fortified residence built in the 16th century in the Basque village of Espelette. Today it serves as the town hall and houses the tourism office on the second floor, with rotating exhibitions on the third floor showing local history and regional pepper cultivation.
The castle was built around 1000 by the Barons of Ezpeleta and originally served as a defensive fortress and residence for the local nobles. In the late 17th century, Baroness Juliana Henriquez left the property to the people of Espelette, transforming it into shared community heritage.
The village centers on its red chili peppers, grown here since the 17th century and dried in distinctive bundles hanging from house walls throughout the streets. This tradition shapes the local character and remains central to how residents and visitors experience the place, especially during the autumn harvest season.
The site welcomes visitors for self-guided exploration, typically taking about 45 minutes to walk through the interior and grounds. It is centrally located in the village and easily accessed on foot, with free entry and amenities including a shop and Wi-Fi access.
Archaeologists in 1997 discovered remains of a late medieval fortress beneath the grounds featuring five towers arranged in an irregular polygon shape. One corner tower was already designated a historic monument in 1937, long before the entire site gained protected status in 1993.
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