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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Madeleine in Port-de-Lanne found its origins in the 13th century, as evidenced by the narrow broken arch windows visible in the attic of the lower side. The primitive, single-vessel building was profoundly reshaped to adopt a three-vessel structure with a triangular apse. Major changes occurred in the 16th and 17th centuries, including the addition of the southern chapel and its apse, as well as the construction of the bell tower in the late 17th or early 18th century. The task marks on the south wall attest to the craft techniques of the time.

Between 1873 and 1875, the architect L. Saint-Vanne conducted important works: vaulting of the lower sides, piercing of windows, transformation of the roof and repair of sculptures. These 19th century interventions modernize the building while preserving medieval elements, such as the triumphal arch or high windows. A first written mention of the church, under the name Sancta Maria de Lane, appears in the cartular of the Abbey of Sorde between 1105 and 1119, suggesting an ancient religious occupation of the site.

Classified as a Historical Monument in 1976, the church belongs to the commune of Port-de-Lanne (Landes). Its oak frame and flat tile cover illustrate the region's traditional materials. Recent renovations (1999–2000) involved walls and coatings, ensuring the sustainability of this architectural heritage combining Romanesque, Gothic and classical styles.

The site, although modified over the centuries, preserves traces of each period: the broken 13th century arches, Renaissance additions, and Baroque developments. Its three-nave plan and its apse with cut edges reflect a liturgical and aesthetic evolution, typical of the rural churches of the South-West. The accuracy of its location is considered satisfactory (note 7/10), and its official address corresponds to the 64 Ter Chemin de Saint-Étienne d'Orthe in Port-de-Lanne.

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