Hendaye (Pyrénées-Atlantiques). It’s time for celebration, but also for reflection at the Abbadia castle-observatory. In early September, representatives of the Academy of Sciences, which owns the site, gathered to celebrate the end of the restoration work, completed last year. The opportunity to also think about what comes next, and more precisely about the potential for development of the cultural offering of the place.
It has been more than a year since the project was completed. Five years were needed to restore the extravagant neo-Gothic castle, former home of the explorer and scientist Antoine d’Abbadie (1810-1897). Among the work carried out, the restoration of the five-hectare park was a central component: designed by Eugène Bülher (1822-1907), the park had since undergone numerous transformations. To restore it in the 19th century spirit, the layout of the paths was redefined and its original decor restored with the planting of 450 plant species. At the same time, the renovation of the enclosure is underway. “The castle is perched on a high ledge, so it is exposed to west winds, storms, rain, explains Didier Roux, academician and curator of the castle. The roof, in particular, requires constant attention. »
A scientific observatory
But the bulk of the work on the building mainly consisted of restoring the historic rooms, under the supervision of architect Stéphane Thouin. At the request of Antoine d’Abbadie, Eugène Viollet-le-Duc and his disciple Edmond Duthoit had built, between 1864 and 1879, a residence in the image of its future owner. Of Basque origin, the scholar is a great linguist and traveler, passionate about geography, astronomy and botany. Bedrooms, reception rooms and a private chapel adjoin an impressive library and a scientific observatory (active until 1975), in which he mapped the sky and studied the Earth’s magnetic activity.. “We wanted to remain as faithful as possible to the origin of the castle. The advantage is that it has been preserved with its original furniture and decoration. specifies the curator. A large part of this furniture, art objects and textiles have been restored. And above all, two rooms – until now closed to the public – have been restored: the kitchens in the basement and the bedroom of the Abbadie couple, reconstructed according to a few photographs, descriptions and period drawings.
The renovated kitchens of Château Abbadia in Hendaye.
© Academy of Sciences
“Today, we are seeking to better highlight the castle’s collection of scientific instruments, which remain barely visible except for the meridian telescope enthroned in the observatory, indicates Didier Roux. Our goal is to promote science among schools and the general public. » This is especially true since attendance has significantly increased since the end of the construction site (during which the castle remained open to visitors), with more than 80,000 visitors in 2024. To this end, a project has emerged: that of investing in the Aragorry house, a Basque farm located below, inhabited by the couple during the construction of the castle. The condition of the building, completely dilapidated, requires heavy structural work (repair of the facade, walls, floors, etc.). No amount has yet been announced, the time being to seek funding. “We rely on patronage, and we are in contact with the Drac (regional directorate of Cultural Affairs), the Region and the Department (which financed the previous project, with a total cost of 2 million euros). » The architectural study is now completed: it is planned to set up a planetarium (which can reach up to 8 meters in diameter) as well as a scientific mediation space which would accommodate either permanent collections or temporary exhibitions. The intention: to begin the new project in 2027, with delivery planned for 2028 or 2029.
