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Origin and history

The church of Saint Vincent de Ciboure, built between 1550 and 1572, embodies the will to emancipate Ciboure, then a simple district of Urrugne. The inhabitants, supported by Pope Julius III and Paul IV, obtained in 1555 the erection of their church in the parish, marking a first step towards political and religious autonomy. This project also fits into the context of the Counter-Reform, where the Catholic Church multiplies constructions to counter Protestant influence in the region.

The construction, financed by the Cibourians for ECU 15 000, combines religious and defensive functions, reflecting the border tensions between France and Spain. The building, completed in 1572, was enlarged in the seventeenth century with the addition of the octagonal bell tower (unique in the Basque Country), side chapels and typical galleries of the Labourd. These modifications extend its dimensions to 47 metres long, while its Baroque decor, influenced by Spain, incorporates retables and a pulpit from the Recollet convent after the Revolution.

A symbol of resistance, the church became an issue during the Revolution: it was transformed into a military hospital in 1792 and lost some of its furniture. The Concordat of 1801 allowed the restoration of the cult, but the church lost its special status as an autonomous parish, where the parish priest was once elected by the inhabitants. Classified as a Historical Monument in 1990, it preserves traces of its past, such as the tombstones of the parvis (former cemetery) or the monolithic cross of 1760.

The organ, installed in the 17th century and replaced several times (last version in 2012-2013), and the Renaissance portal of 1888, mixing ancient elements and neoclassical additions, testify to its architectural evolution. The church remains a place of memory, especially for the baptism of Maurice Ravel in 1875. Its history reflects local struggles for autonomy, Basque and Spanish cultural influences, and adaptation to political and religious upheavals.

Local specificities, such as the galleries reserved for men or the marine frame, underline its anchor in the Labourd. The tithe and revenues of the church, before the Revolution, financed its maintenance, illustrating its central role in community life. Today, it combines baroque heritage, primitive Christian symbols (chrism, A and A) and maritime heritage, making it an emblematic monument of the French Basque Country.

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