La collection Gramont de Vallière à Bayonne

Originally from Bidache, the Gramont family spread their influence from Versailles to Madrid, bringing fame to Bayonne, the Basque Country and Béarn.

Around 1040, Bergon I Garcia received the lands of Gramont on the Bidouze River, on the border between Navarre and Aquitaine. He built a castle there overlooking a new town that controlled the pilgrims' route to Santiago de Compostela. Gradually, the lords of Gramont extended their power over the lower Bidouze valley as far as Guiche, then became hereditary mayors of Bayonne in the 16th century and military governors until the Revolution.

This book, published to mark the reopening of the Bonnat-Helleu Museum in Bayonne, presents a history illustrated by 144 paintings and 30 sculptures, passed down from generation to generation and donated to the City of Bayonne in 1986. Olivier Ribeton, honorary curator of the Basque Museum, takes us through these works and the history of an influential lineage — marshals, governors, academics and diplomats — from the Middle Ages to the 20th century.