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Origin and history

The Church of Our Lady of the Nativity of Guinas is a Catholic church located in the district of Guinas, 3 km southeast of Cachen, in the Landes department. The building, although composed of elements built at different times, offers an impression of harmony. Its origin probably dates back to the 13th century, but it was partially destroyed in the 16th century during the Wars of Religion. Three reconstruction campaigns followed, preserving the style of the bell tower wall, probably rebuilt in the 18th century. A neoclassical dome topped by a bell tower and covered with slates is a remarkable structural work. This dome was restored in 1959 thanks to the initiative of the Borda Society and the financing of the Landes General Council.

The carved oak entrance door, dating from the 17th or 18th century, features blue-dominated polychrome panels, decorated with two characters: the Virgin on a crescent moon and Saint Andrew in front of her cross. Their faces bear the traces of an old mutilation. The lock and key, also old, add to its historical character. Inside, the sacristy houses a cabinet called "de la Fabrique", a two-body furniture from the 17th and 18th centuries, in light and dark oak, reinforced with ironwork and decorated with Louis XIII motifs. Its central chest, equipped with three separate locks, once housed an 18th century golden wooden statuette, representing a crowned Virgin with the Child, holding a terrestrial globe.

The church thus illustrates a superposition of styles and eras, reflecting the historical upheavals of the region, from religious conflicts to modern restorations. Its furniture and interior decorations, such as the carved door or cabinet of the Fabrique, underline its role both spiritual and heritage in the local community.

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