La Tour de la Monnaie

Crossing the renaissance gardens of the castle, you arrive in front of the Tour de la Monnaie (the Mint tower).

Currency bearing the effigy of the King of France was coined there until the Revolution. On the reverse side these coins bore the Béarn vaquetas ('calves').

Called 'Camp Batailhé', Place de la Monnaie was the scene of duels and judgements of God. It became the site of craftsmen's workshops.