Villa Mauresque, Hendaye

Villa Mauresque is a 19th-century mansion overlooking the Bidasoa river in Hendaye, in the French Basque Country.

Walk along the riverbank in Hendaye and this building stops you in your tracks: Moorish arches, yellow stone facades and a galleried patio look nothing like the surrounding Basque architecture. That contrast is exactly why visitors keep asking who built it and why.

Who built the Villa Mauresque?

The house went up between 1866 and 1867 for Prince Jules de Polignac, son of the famous minister to Charles X. Polignac had spent years in Algeria serving with the African Chasseurs regiment, and that chapter of his life shaped both the building's name and its design. The result was a three-storey house arranged around a central patio lined with arcaded galleries, opening toward the river through five arches.

Why did ownership change hands?

Polignac ran up heavy debts, and his family eventually recovered the property before selling it in 1890 to Dr. Camino, from an old family in Briscous who went on to become mayor of Hendaye. Camino had just opened the town's marine hospital, and he found the villa in a neglected state. He carried out a thorough overhaul: adding two further residential floors and covering the courtyard with a glass roof to create an enclosed patio.

What does the architecture look like today?

The signature Moorish-style windows are framed in yellow stone brought over from Fontarabie (Hondarribia), on the Spanish side of the river. Inside, Arab and Spanish influences blend together, visible in the decorative arches, the facade colours and the patio layout that still anchors the whole composition. It's a style that sets the villa apart from typical Basque riverside houses, making it one of the more distinctive landmarks in this part of Hendaye.

Can visitors go inside?

Villa Mauresque remains private property, still owned by the Légasse-Camino family, descendants of the doctor who rebuilt it. It has been listed as a historic monument since 2010, which protects its facade and key architectural features but does not open it to the public. The best way to see it is from outside — walking along the Bidasoa waterfront or taking a boat trip on the river, both of which offer a clear view of the arched riverside front.

Frequently asked questions

Who designed and built Villa Mauresque? It was built between 1866 and 1867 for Prince Jules de Polignac, who gave it its Moorish character in tribute to his military years in Algeria.

Why is it called "mauresque"? The name refers to the Moorish style — arches, patio and windows inspired by North African architecture that Polignac encountered during his time in Algeria.

Is Villa Mauresque open to the public? No, it's a private residence belonging to the Légasse-Camino family. It can only be viewed from outside, for example from the riverbank or during a boat trip on the Bidasoa.

What makes the villa different from other buildings in Hendaye? Its Moorish styling — yellow stone, an arcaded patio and an arched riverside facade — contrasts sharply with the region's typical Basque architecture, making it a unique landmark in the town.