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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Étienne, located in the commune of Uchacq-et-Parentis (Landes, New Aquitaine), is a building whose history extends from the twelfth to the middle of the nineteenth century. Originally, it was a Romanesque church, whose portal and capitals of the choir remain today, witnesses of this medieval period. These architectural elements, such as arches in the middle of the wall decorated with interlaces or billets, as well as sculptures depicting biblical scenes (the dance of Herodiad, Daniel between lions), attest to his seniority and religious importance.

In 1853, the church was demolished and rebuilt away from the Estrigon, a stream whose repeated floods since 1843 threatened its stability. This reconstruction incorporates classical-style murals, made in 1854 by Montois painter Louis-Anselme Longa. These decorations, as well as the preservation of novel elements in the new structure, illustrate the transition between two artistic epochs. The building was partially listed as a historic monument in 1946 (for its portal) and was fully listed in 2004, highlighting its heritage value.

The tympanum of the portal, dating from the 12th century, bears the monogram of Christ framed by the letters alpha and omega, accompanied by the symbols of the four Evangelists. This iconographic detail, combined with carved capitals, reinforces the sacred and didactic character of the church. Today, the building belongs to the municipality and remains an architectural testimony to the stylistic evolutions and functional adaptations suffered by the Irish religious buildings over the centuries.

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