The Castle of Abbadia
If you don’t know the region yet, you will quickly be seduced. Discover the castle of Abbadia, which is located in Hendaye, a pleasant coastal town in the French Basque Country, on the border with Spain.
By car, it takes only 10 minutes to reach the castle from our Camping Suhiberry in Urrugne. If you want to see the country and go to the castle on foot or by bike, it will take you 1h20 and 30 minutes respectively.
The presentation of the Abbadia castle
The castle of Abbadia is a magnificent residence, built between 1864 and 1884 by the famous architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc, for Antoine d’Abbadie, a man of science and travel enthusiast. The castle had an astronomy observatory until 1975 before the site was bequeathed to the Academy of Sciences.
Placed on a hill, with a view of the ocean, the castle has a central body and three wings that let in the sunlight.
For architecture lovers, the place will leave you speechless. A subtle mix of neo-gothic style and eclectic decoration make it an enchanting heritage and a must-see museum in the Basque Country.
Visits and activities to do around Abbadia castle
It is obviouslypossible to visit this place full of mystery. Starting with the astronomy observatory, you will discover the travels and inspirations of the former owner of the castle. You will visit ten rooms of the castle, all furnished with 19th century furniture during a 50-minute guided tour. Add 30 minutes to the first visit to learn more about this exceptional building.
A castle is nothing without its incredible gardens; therefore, head outside and discover an English-style park, designed by Antoine d’Abbadia in collaboration with Eugène Bülher, landscape architect.
The “prestige” visit offers you the possibility to combine the three previous visits, as well as to open the door of a key room, recently renovated, the kitchen. Two hours are necessary for this last route.
Activities for the little ones are available. You will find treasure hunts that allow you to put yourself in the shoes of Antoine d’Abbadia, our explorer, as well as scientific workshops, to play the little chemist.
Practical information at Abbadia Castle
Due to the new sanitary norms, the Abbadia castle is accessible with the sanitary pass and the wearing of a mask is mandatory.
The site is open (almost) all year round. From January to March, enjoy guided tours from Tuesday to Sunday.
In April, May and June, the castle opens its doors seven days a week for free visits, while in July and August, visits can be guided (in the morning) and free (in the afternoon).
In September and October, the visits are guided, every day.
Finally, in November and December, the visits are guided, from Tuesday to Sunday.
It is important to find out the times of the last departures, as well as to reserve your places on the internet.
Two free parking lots are available near the castle.
The castle benefits from the“Tourism and Handicap” label, which makes it a place accessible to all.
The Basque coast is the ideal place for a vacation with family or friends. Do not miss the best sites to visit, which offer the region a rich cultural heritage.
