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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Pierre de Brocas, located in Montaut in the Landes, has been listed as a historical monument since 1934. It is distinguished by its Gallo-Roman arch of triumph, built in the seventeenth century, and its fortified 14th century bell tower, marked by murderers and a round path. The building, of Romanesque origin (11th century), was enlarged in the 16th century by a collateral and Gothic apse, then embellished in the 17th century with a monumental portal and stucco decorations.

The church was initially the parish seat of Brocas, a dominant hamlet of Montaut until the 17th century. In 1685 the bishop of Aire transferred the parish seat to the village of Montaut, reducing Brocas to branch status. The building suffered destruction during the Wars of Religion (1569) and major modifications in the 18th and 19th centuries, such as the transfer of altars and the restoration of the bell tower. Its furniture includes a 12th century novel altar, a 17th century stone pulpit, and stained glass windows by Gustave-Pierre Dagrand (XIXth century).

The steeple, a fortified square tower, bears witness to the English influence during the Hundred Years' War, with traces of coat of arms now missing. The Renaissance portal, studied by François-Georges Pariset, is attributed to an Italian artist inspired by antiquity. The church also preserves remains of a Gothic altarpiece destroyed in 1569 and baroque elements such as an 18th century rock high altar. Its adjacent cemetery, used until 1851, and the miraculous fountain of Saint-Pierre, 2 km away, complete its rich and turbulent history.

In the 19th century, the church was restored several times, notably after a fire caused by lightning in 1859. In 1934, his state of disrepair led to the prohibition of offices, followed by partial restorations such as the extension of the bell tower in 1936. The stained glass windows, made by Dagrand between 1875 and 1889, illustrate religious scenes and were financed by local donations. Today, the church combines Romanesque, Gothic and Renaissance elements, reflecting its architectural evolution and its central role in Dutch community life.

The current building consists of two vessels under a unique roof: the original Romanesque nave in the north and the 16th century southern collateral. The north chorus, disoriented, and the monumental portal with double entrance underline its originality. The interior decorations, such as the 17th century stuccos and statues of the altarpiece, as well as the 1914-1918 commemorative plaques in the porch, recall its historical and memorial significance. The church remains a major testimony of the religious and architectural heritage of the Landes, marked by conflicts, reconstructions and liturgical adaptations.

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