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Origin and history

The Church of St John of Bagneres-de-Bigorre was built around 1280 by the Hospitallers of the Order of St John of Jerusalem in Bigorre. This religious monument, dedicated to Saint John, reflects late Romanesque architecture with Gothic influences, as evidenced by its arches in warhead and its adorned capitals. After the Revolution, the building lost its cult vocation and was transformed into a theatre, illustrating the urban changes of the time.

A fire ravaged the church in 1901, leaving only its portal and portico standing. These remains, remarkable by their tympanum adorned with a cross of Jerusalem and their columns with Romanesque capitals, were inscribed in the Historic Monuments on November 15, 1926. The portal, located at the corner of Saint-Jean and Les Thermes streets, remains the only visible testimony of this medieval building.

The Hospitallers, religious and military, played a key role in the construction of the church, as evidenced by the symbols of order (Jerusalem Cross) still visible today. Their presence in Bigorre was part of a wider network of command offices and hospitals, marking local history by their religious and charitable commitment.

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