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Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Saint-Jacques de Labouheyre, located in the Landes department in New Aquitaine, is a Catholic religious building dedicated to the Apostle James the Major. Originally built in garluch (local material), it presented a Romanesque style before being rebuilt between the late 15th and early 16th centuries, then adopting a Gothic style. This monument marks a stage on the way to Tours, one of the French roads leading to Santiago de Compostela, as evidenced by the jacquarian symbols visible on its facade, such as the shells or a carved pilgrim head.

The bell tower of the church once integrated the ramparts of the town, now disappeared, emphasizing its defensive and community role. In 1863, the building underwent major changes: the addition of two lateral chapels aligned with the nave, the drilling of new windows, and the repair of the arches of warheads. These modifications, combined with the addition of foothills, reflect an adaptation to the liturgical and structural needs of the time. Gothic elements, such as vaults or openings, coexist with Romanesque traces, illustrating its architectural evolution.

The church preserves tangible traces of its link with the compostellan pilgrimage, notably through the decoration of the portal. The outer vesture, decorated with scallops, and the sculpture of a pilgrim's head recall its status as a spiritual stage and a place of welcome for the walkers. These artistic details, combined with its position on a historical itinerary, make it a material testimony of medieval and modern religious practices in Gascony.

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