Lacataye Keep

Mont-de-Marsan may have its share of historical treasures, but none quite as captivating as the Lacataye Keep. Believe it or not, the city’s most famous landmark was once two Romanesque houses joined together to form a fortified manor. Built in the 13th century, it is thought to have served as both a lookout tower and a defense post. This is all the more likely given that the name “Lacataye” comes from the Spanish word “castar,” meaning “to observe” or “to watch over.” In 1860, Antoine Lacaze, mayor of Mont-de-Marsan, restored the building before handing it over to the city with the aim to welcome troops. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the keep served as a military barracks, a girls’ boarding school, a gymnastics training center and a municipal workshop. So, no plans to make it a cultural space? Well, they did eventually. In 1968, it opened its doors as the Despiau-Wlérick Museum, dedicated to figurative sculpture. So you see, with its rich past and artistic masterpieces, the Lacataye dungeon is a must-see. It truly has it all!