A 12th-century feudal castle with its keep, lordly dwelling, cistern and ramparts. It was built by the lords of Saint-Béat to protect the town and control the valley.
The fortified castle is symbolised by its seigniorial defence tower, built in the 12th century. It was used to warn the County of Comminges of possible invasions from Spain, due to Saint-Béat’s strategic position in relation to the border. It was built by the lords of Saint-Béat and manned by captains-at-arms until the 16th century. At that time, Henri IV (reign 1589 – 1610) had the gates and walls added.
However, the castle was not directly attacked, which enabled it to survive the centuries. It was restored in 2000.
Saint-Béat became a royal town in 1454. Its strategic position earned it the title of “Key of France” for services rendered during various sieges. These keys can be found on the village coat of arms.
The statue at the entrance to Saint-Béat-Lez bearing the name Passus Lupi and the keys was created by Serge Sallan and Michel Lamoureux in Saint-Béat marble during the 4th Festival of Sculpture and Marble. It was stolen in 2006 and recovered in 2018.
The village was thus able to benefit from special privileges, such as trading during the war or not paying certain taxes during fairs. It also benefited from agreements on leases and passeries, concluded from valley to valley, which primarily ensured peace between communities (living on either side of the Franco-Spanish border) and the enjoyment of high-altitude pastures.
The château offers a vast view of the village, the Garonne and the mountains.
It has an escape game with an enigma booklet and a reward at the end. It’s the perfect place for observation and discovery!
The adjoining chapel, currently under repair, dates from the 19th century. It was built by a doctor who lived in the village following a cholera epidemic. He also had a large statue of the Virgin Mary erected here to watch over the village and the valley. The statue has just been renovated.
