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Key figures

Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Subéhargues is a Roman Catholic building located in the commune of Aire-sur-l It is part of the parish of Sainte-Quitterie and depends on the diocese of Aire-et-Dax. Isolated to the north-east of the city, near the hamlet of Subéhargues, it coexists with three other places of worship in the commune: the cathedral Saint-Jean-Baptiste, the church Saint-Quitterie and the Carmel Saint-Joseph.

In 1569, during the Wars of Religion, Protestant troops led by Count Gabriel I of Montgomery looted and burned the church. This episode reflects the religious tensions of the time, which have marked many cultural buildings in the region. The church was later attached to St John the Baptist Cathedral in 1810 as an annex, before becoming a branch in 1839.

Between 1840 and 1846, the church underwent extensive restoration work. The presbytery and bell tower were renovated in 1841, and the bell, recast in 1842, was replaced in August of the same year. In 1846, the bell tower was enhanced to improve the sound of the new bell. Later, between 1904 and 1908, artist Louis Saint-Blancat created the church stained glass windows, adding a significant artistic dimension to the building.

In the 20th century, a second phase of work began: the vault was repaired in 1948, the choir was painted in 1964, and the vaults and the lateral and central naves were restored in 1965. These interventions illustrate a constant desire to preserve and embellish this local religious heritage.

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