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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Geaune found its origins in the foundation of the bastide in 1318, although no document attests to an initial place of worship on that date. The current building, dedicated to John the Baptist, was built between 1401 and 1452 away from the city centre, probably replacing a primitive church located 300 meters further north, demolished in 1747. Its Romanesque style and unique nave leading to a five-sided bedside characterize this medieval period.

The wars of Religion deeply mark the history of the monument: in 1569, Protestant troops destroyed altars, furniture and beheaded the bell tower, while the stone vaults were destroyed in 1793. These degradations led to major transformations, such as the replacement of vaults by wooden structures in the early 19th century, and their restoration into arches of warheads (bricks and stone) between 1875 and 1876. The stained glass and painted coatings also date from this work campaign.

The bell tower porch, an emblematic element of the church, is classified as a Historic Monument on July 18, 1973, while the rest of the building is inscribed on the same date. This bell tower, supported by pillars and flanked by a hexagonal turret housing a spiral staircase, maintains a gate decorated with a vegetal frieze and a niche tympanum. The chapel of Sainte-Trinité, added by Jean de Castelnau du Lau (Bishop of Bayonne) to establish its burial, bears witness to the links between the monument and local religious figures.

The restorations of the 19th century aim to restore the church to its supposed medieval appearance, with painted coatings covered in 1987-1988 to reveal the original walls. These interventions reflect changes in conservation practices, between respect for heritage and interpretive reconstructions. Today, the church remains a symbol of Geaune's bastide, mixing Romanesque heritage, traces of religious conflicts and modern adaptations.

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