2/9 A long family story ...
Le Fraisse came into our family in 1220 by the Wedding of dame Quitterie du Fraisse, last descendant of the family of the same name, with Urban Monstiers. Le Fraisse of thirteenth century was a "noble house", which is almost nothing left today. It was burned in 1356 by the famous "Black Prince". It was rebuilt after the Hundred Years War by Sieur Jacques des Monstiers. This is the "old castle" of the fifteenth century forming the right side of the building.The main part, dating from the sixteenth century, was built by Johns Monstiers, Bishop of Bayonne and Ambassador of kings of France Francis 1st and Henry II to Charles Quint. Fascinated by the Renaissance, he appealed to the Italian architect Sebastiano Serlio to enlarge the family home