The history of Château de Buros

Gallo - Roman settlement and wild animals

As early as the Gallo-Roman period, there was a small Gallo-Roman settlement on the site of the current Château. It is certain that they already had taste and an eye for detail back then.

The settlement was in a small, intimate valley surrounded by dense oak forest with natural watercourses and springs. Fruit, mushrooms, vegetables and herbs were found in abundance here.

And for that reason, the area was densely populated by all kinds of wild animals. Obelix was right: wild boars in abundance (and still are…)!

People lived here calmly and contentedly. Yes, they also died but were buried nearby in a peaceful piece of forest. That cemetery still exists and is located a few hundred meters away from the Château but has always been well hidden and remained so.

King Henry IV, land-grabbing and 3 Musketeers

The centuries passed and France became larger and more important. King Henry IV lived not far from here and from time to time fought his quarrels and political interests in this area. The route that Henry frequently took on his way to visit his many girlfriends in the area still exists today. Nowadays this route is called the “chevauché de Henry Quatre”, but back then it was nothing more than part of his pleasures.

Princes, princess and nobility followed each other in a period of mutual intrigue, land-grabbing and land-exchange, fierce battles, intrigues and staged marriages.

The 3 Musketeers lived here and died here too. Except for d’Artagnan, the bravest, who did so in Maastricht.

A Château for protection

Around 1400 a small château had been built here as part of a chain of châteaux, forts, bastides and fortresses. From here Aquitaine was protected against anyone who had evil intentions.

Time marched on and due to all kinds of political changes the defense line became redundant. Many parts of the proud defense fell into disrepair, affected by the ravages of time.

The current Château de Buros was built on the foundations of that last building.

A peaceful spot of almost 6000 hectares…

Agruculture, forestry and cow fights

People lived comfortably from agriculture and forestry, from sheep farming, from extracting pine resin and from growing grapes for the production of Armagnac. And…from a troupe of fighting cows for the extremely popular “Course Landaise” here, the proud popular sport of fighting wild cows but without fatalities or abuse for the cows. The courageous participating ‘sauteurs and  écateurs’ often fared less well. Fatal accidents because of wildly stamping and butting cows with richly decorated horns were the order of the day. In the meantime, the safety regulations have been tightened considerably, and a course has become a lot safer for the participants but certainly no less spectacular. Your visit is more than worth it!

Château de Buros had a real reputation to uphold in that tradition. The Buros fighting cows were famous and feared in the area. A course with Buros cows was sold out in advance… It was Joseph Barrère, the châtelain de Buros, who owned, led and perfected this feared troupe. The most dangerous, the most feared and wildly ferocious cow was Caracola. It has been more than a century since she dominated the arenas in the area, but her name is still spoken with awe and great respect. Caracola, La Terrible!

From family residence to hotel-restaurant

The Barrère era is still not over. Joseph's great-grandson, Jean Barrère is now the owner of Ganaderia de Buros, one of the most respected breeding farms of fighting cows in Les Landes. The apple does not fall far from the tree, Jean is the neighbor of Château de Buros. The descendants of Caracola are now walking around the corner…. So watch out! After many, many generations of Barrère, the château was finally sold in the early 1980s and the charming and atmospheric family residence was converted into a hotel-restaurant.

From 1998 to 2021, Angélique and Marijn de Wit  were the proud and happy owners of this, since time immemorial, safe, beautiful, lovely, but above all hospitable House.

Today

And since 2021, Forte has settled here and continues the inspiring history of Château de Buros. Now, it is no longer a hotel-restaurant, but a private place for Forte Digital.

Enjoy your stay in this very special place!

Written by Angèlique & Marijn de Wit