Royal immersion at the House of Louis XIV

A listed historic monument, the Maison Louis XIV has been owned by the same family since it was built in 1643. The land was originally acquired by the wealthy shipowner Johannis de Lohobiague and his wife Marie-Sol de Hirigoyen. The Lohobiagues, noblemen from Saint Jean de Luz, made their fortune between the 16th and 19th centuries as ship captains, mayors, merchants and shipowners. In particular, they allied themselves with the powerful local families of Haraneder, Chibau and Saint Martin.

As the house was the most luxurious in Saint-Jean-de-Luz in the 17th century, it was naturally chosen to house the king during his stay of more than a month. Having come to marry his cousin the Infanta Maria Theresa of Spain (and thus seal the Treaty of the Pyrenees putting an end to the 30 Years' War), Louis XIV took up residence with his entire court in Lohobiague-enea in 1660.

A house that has evolved over time

This residence is built on the principle of the large family houses of Labourd and Navarre (4 load-bearing walls, chestnut beams, galleries open to the south). The main staircase, probably built by naval carpenters, is also made of chestnut wood. Since it was built, the Maison Louis XIV has always been inhabited by the same family, who over the centuries and generations have accumulated paintings, furniture and precious objects.

The tour will last around 40 minutes. On the ground floor, the guide will take you up to the second level of the house, known asthe "Master Floor". First, you enter the Grand Salon, a superb room designed to welcome guests. It used to offer a panoramic view of the port, but shortly after Lohobiague-enea was built, jealousies arose in Saint-Jean-de-Luz . The town erected a town hall next to the port, spoiling the panoramic view that the house once enjoyed.

You will then visit the kitchen, a large living room (the dining room did not yet exist) that blends the old and the new. Here you can see a series of saucepans, a four-hole "potager" where charcoal was burnt, and china cabinets lined with the House's old pewter crockery, embossed with the Haraneder coat of arms. There are also more modern facilities, as the kitchen is still in use today.

The King's bedroom

The next room is probably the most luxurious: the King's bedroom, which, as its name suggests, was home to Louis XIV. You'll see the Basque-Navarrais bishop's bed, which is said to have been given to the family for the wedding. On either side of the bed are portraits of Joannis de Lohobiague and his wife, Marie-Sol, who was widowed when she received the King.