Completion of the nave 1593 (≈ 1593)
Nef completed before that date.
1627
Renaissance Portal
Renaissance Portal 1627 (≈ 1627)
Construction of the current portal.
1667
Spoon-lock
Spoon-lock 1667 (≈ 1667)
Building of the tower in dungeon.
XVIIe siècle
Construction of church
Construction of church XVIIe siècle (≈ 1750)
Replacement of an old building.
1925
First protection
First protection 1925 (≈ 1925)
Registration for historical monuments.
2014
Full classification
Full classification 2014 (≈ 2014)
Total protection of the building.
2015
South staircase classification
South staircase classification 2015 (≈ 2015)
Protection of the outside staircase.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
The Church of Saint-Étienne in its entirety (Box AS 103): inscription by decree of 18 April 2014; The church of Saint-Étienne, in total, with the southern outside staircase leading to the first floor of the bell tower, located on plot No. 103 and, for the staircase, on plot No. 102, appearing in the cadastre section AS: classification by order of 9 June 2015
Key figures
Père David - Missionary and naturalist
Baptized in this church.
Cardinal Etchegaray - Priest then Cardinal
Ordained here, offered a picture.
Baron d'Ezpelata - Donor
Offered a table assigned to Ribera.
Origin and history
The church of Saint-Étienne d'Espelette, located in the French Basque Country (Pyrénées-Atlantiques), is an emblematic building of the Labourd, marked by its fortress look and richly decorated interior. Dedicated to Saint Stephen and dependent on the diocese of Bayonne, it is distinguished by its bell tower-porch shaped dungeon (1667) and Renaissance portal (1627), reflecting an architecture adapted to the defensive and spiritual needs of the region. Its history is linked to the pilgrimage to Compostela, stressing its central role in local religious life.
Construction of the present church began before 1593, when the nave was completed, replacing an older building. Its interior houses an 18th-century baroque altarpiece decorated with statues (Saint John the Baptist, Saint James, Saint Peter, Saint Paul) and bas-reliefs illustrating the life of Saint Stephen. The three-storey wooden galleries, added from the 16th century to accommodate an increasing population, testify to the demographic changes associated with health and food progress. Until the 1970s, these galleries were reserved for men, separating the faithful by gender.
Among the treasures of the church is a painting attributed to Ribera, Saint Jerome intends to sound the trumpets of the Last Judgment (1884), classified in 1991. The building is also linked to historical figures such as Father David, a missionary and naturalist baptized here, and Cardinal Etchegaray, ordained priest in this church, who offered there the Adoration of the Shepherds. Ranked a historical monument in 1925 and then in total in 2014, the church embodies both the Basque religious heritage and the social history of the community.
The architecture of the church, typical of the Basque churches, combines a long room with galleries on three sides, carved poles and toured balustrades. These elements, combined with its position on the road to Compostela, make it a utilitarian and symbolic monument. The protection of its southern staircase (2015) and its integral classification underline its heritage importance, while its management by the municipality of Espelette ensures its preservation for future generations.
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