Chateau d'Abbadie

About

In the 1860s French astronomer and explorer Antoine Thomson d'Abbadie d'Arrast commissioned the construction of a beautiful manor on the Basque Coast. The result was this jaw-dropping neo-Gothic structure that was designed to be more than a pretty retreat. The castle served as an astronomical observatory that would allow Thomson to watch the night sky, and remained functional until 1979. The castle's interior is eye-catching in its own right - the walls and ceilings are covered with trophies Thomson gathered during his exploration of Ethiopia, or religious decor depicting pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela. After Thomson's death, the castle was bequeathed to the French Academy of Sciences. Today visitors can enjoy a tour explaining the history behind the building and the endeavours of its first owner.