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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre de Bègles, located in the Gironde department, was built in the 13th century by Benedictines of the Abbey of Sainte-Croix of Bordeaux, on the remains of a Gallo-Roman temple. The monks placed relics of Saint Maur there, attracting pilgrims. The church housed a fraternity defending the interests of the inhabitants against the jurats of Bordeaux and the monks, reflecting the local tensions of the time.

During the French Revolution, the building served as a town hall, and the parish priest Marc Daguzan was elected mayor in February 1790, as evidenced by a commemorative plaque. The church underwent transformations until 1830, and its apse and 16th century chapel were classified as historical monuments in 1925. Its pediment bears the inscription "French Republic, Freedom, Equality, Fraternity", rare for a church.

The church architecture bears traces of the 15th and 16th centuries, with engraved inscriptions and a date (1491) visible on the exterior wall. It once had a pointed bell tower of 1507, now gone. Inside, his furniture includes a altarpiece and classified statues, stained glass by André Barreau, and a 19th-century organ by Georges Wenner.

The building, surrounded by the communal cemetery, illustrates the religious and political evolution of Bègles, from its monastic origin to its role during the Revolution. Its artistic heritage and inscriptions make it a significant witness to local and national history.

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