Timeline

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Notre-Dame-des-Flots finds its origins in a modest chapel built in 1893 at Cap Ferret, then isolated land of sand and pines. First served by the Dominicans of the Moulleau, then by the chaplain of the Algerian villa, it was enlarged in 1932 to accommodate 200 faithful. The chapel became a parish in 1936, marking the beginning of an increased use of this still wild peninsula, where fishermen and estivants met in wooden huts.

In 1955, Abbé Robert Marquaux launched an ambitious project: replacing the chapel with a modern church, symbolizing the rise of Cape Ferret. Designed by architect Raymond Morin-Roux, the new church took the shape of a ship's nave overturned, incorporating innovations such as stained glass walls of light signed Hugues Maurin and electronic crystal bells, rare in France. The works, financed entirely by the gifts of parishioners (Kermesses, tombolas, quests), stowed from 1956 to 1966, the original chapel being demolished only in 1963.

The building was inaugurated in 1966 by Cardinal Richaud at a maritime ceremony gathering 200 boats. Its decoration combines Christian and marine symbols (nets, rudder, fænes), while the copper Virgin repulsed from the facade and Christ in floating wood, carved by Hugues Maurin, testify to the local craftsmanship. The tireless artisan of the project, Father Marquaux, was buried there in 1977. In 1983, a cross of sailors commemorating 78 shipwrecked (1836) was installed on the court, strengthening the link between the church and maritime memory.

The architecture of Morin-Roux, marked by the modernism of the 1950s, made Notre-Dame-des-Flots a unique building, where light and innovative materials (glass, copper) interact with the landscape of dunes and pine trees. The stained glass windows, conceived as "walls of light", and the electronic bells — the second such installation in France — illustrate a desire to combine religious tradition and technical progress. The exceptional mobilization of parishioners, having raised 27 million francs, remains a rare example of community construction.

Today, the church embodies the history of Cape Ferret, from its beginnings as a fishing village to its status as a popular seaside resort. Its court, decorated with the cross of the restored sailors, and its nave with nautical accents make it a place of memory for the disappeared at sea. The 50th anniversary of his consecration, celebrated in 2016 by Monsignor Ricard, recalled his central role in the spiritual and social life of the peninsula, between maritime heritage and architectural modernity.

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