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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Mouguerre, located in the village of this town of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques, is a 17th-century stone building typical of the Labourdin style. Dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, it depends on the diocese of Bayonne, Lescar and Oloron, and shares its name with another local church, that of Mouguerre Elizaberry. Its exterior architecture is distinguished by an open and chanting bell tower, adorned with a soundshaft supported by five consoles carved of human heads. Inside, a unique nave houses two floors of wooden stands, characteristic of Basque architecture, accessible by wooden stairs.

Built in the 17th century, the church underwent two major changes: in 1769, then in 1825, the latter date probably corresponding to the addition of the porch under appentis. The entrance gate, dated 1769, also bears the mention of 1825, reflecting these transformations. The Baroque altarpiece, centered on a painting of Christ's baptism, is framed by statues of Saints Peter and Paul, while a dove symbolizes the Holy Spirit. The golden altar represents the Paschal Lamb, and stained glass windows illustrate holy figures such as the Immaculate Conception or Saint Isidore.

The church also houses notable works, such as a painting of the martyrdom of St John the Evangelist and statues of the Virgin Mary and St Joseph. The adjacent cemetery, with its calvary and discoidal steles, completes this heritage complex. Since 1978, since September 2024, the church has been the subject of restoration works aimed at its structure, interior galleries and bell tower. These interventions aim to preserve this architectural and religious testimony of the Basque Country.

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