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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Étienne d'Urcuit, located in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is a religious building in the Labourdin style. It is dedicated to Saint Stephen and depends on the diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron. Its architecture is distinguished by a unique nave and two floors of wooden stands, characteristic of Basque architecture. The portal under the porch, dated the 15th century, bears witness to a medieval origin, although the church was profoundly transformed in the 19th century.

A document of 1083 already mentions the church as Sanctus stephanus de Auriocta. At that time, it was placed under the dependence of the abbey of the Premontrés of Lahonce. The 19th century works, notably in 1866 (dated engraved on the south elevation), modified its structure, but some elements such as the medieval portal were preserved.

The interior of the church houses a baroque altar with a painting depicting the martyrdom of St Stephen, framed by the statues of St Paul and St Peter. The richly decorated altar includes symbolic sculptures such as the paschal lamb, a chalice and an ostensoir, reflecting the liturgical importance of the building. These artistic elements underline its central role in local religious life.

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