Henry d’Albret also devoted himself to the placing of the country in a
proper state of defence, and fortified several of the towns. Navarreinx,
commanding the valley of the Gave of Oloron, was virtually rebuilt by
him and transformed into a perfect stronghold, as was evidenced during
the religious wars, when it successfully withstood the artillery
of Terrade, the Catholic commander. Long afterwards, when Vauban
inaugurated his new system of fortification, he came to Navarreinx, and
on seeing the ramparts raised by Margaret’s husband was so favourably
impressed, that instead of levelling them to the ground he contented
himself with adding to them and making various improvements. Henry
d’Albret was also anxious to refortify Sauveterre, which the Prince of
Orange, with one of the Imperial armies, had captured in 1523, when he
half-demolished the old castle of Montreal, then the most formidable
citadel in Bearn. However, as time and money were lacking, Henry had to
abandon his plans, and the ruins left by the Imperialists, the ivy-clad
keep, and mutilated bridge over the Gave soon fell into irremediable
decay.(1)