A residence cherished by the d'Albret family

The Château Royal of Cazeneuve was once owned by the kings and queens of Navarre. The lords of Albret have owned it since the 12th century. Later, in 1572, the most famous of the kings of Navarre, Henry III (the future Henry IV, King of France), inherited this estate upon the death of his mother, Jeanne d’Albret. This château was one of the favourite properties of this great family from south-west of France, as it was to Cazeneuve that they most often chose to go, mainly for its game-rich lands. Henry IV was no exception, as hunting was one of his greatest passions.

Queen Margot at Cazeneuve: between romantic rendezvous and a gilded prison:

In 1583, Marguerite de Valois was placed under house arrest by her husband, King Henry IV, pending the annulment of their marriage. Better known today as Queen Margot, she was unable to produce an heir to the throne.

Rumour has it that Queen Margot liked to use the castle’s underground passage to reach the banks of the Ciron for a few romantic rendezvous.

A modern château:

In 1595, Henry IV, nearly ruined by the French Wars of Religion, bequeathed his beloved château to his loyal cousin Raymond de Vicose. The latter transformed this medieval fortress into a modern 17th-century château, giving it its present appearance.

Famous figures in Cazeneuve:

In addition to Henry IV and his ancestors, other historical figures have left their mark on Cazeneuve and stayed there:

King Edward I of England and his wife Eleanor of Castile on 29 November 1287
King Louis XIII of France in 1620, whilst travelling to Pau to sign the edict annexing Navarre
King Louis XIV of France, in 1660, stopped off at Cazeneuve before travelling to Saint-Jean-de-Luz for his wedding
The writer Charlotte Rose de Caumont de la Force, little known today, was nevertheless a highly regarded novelist at the court of the Sun King. One of her tales, Persinette, inspired the Brothers Grimm and, more recently, Disney for the story of Rapunzel.

King Henri IV of France & Queen Marguerite (aka the Queen Margot)

Louis XVI's bedroom

A furnished castle

Having been relatively spared by the ravages of time and various wars, Cazeneuve has managed to preserve its appearance and, above all, its furnishings. As the château has never been sold, the various families have passed the furniture down from generation to generation. Over the centuries, marriages and inheritances have led to the accumulation of this incredible collection of furniture, dating from the reign of Henry IV right up to the 20th century.

A place that has always been inhabited

Thanks to a series of inheritances and marriages, the château was never sold.

In 1835, Joseph Léonide de Sabran-Pontevès married the heiress of Cazeneuve, Adelaïde Bonne de Pons Saint-Maurice. Since then, Cazeneuve has belonged to the Ducal family of Sabran-Pontevès. Today, the château continues to be inhabited.

The current owner is Count Louis-Elzéar de Sabran-Pontevès.

Coat of arms of the Ducal family of Sabran-Pontevès