Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes, located in La Brède (Gironde), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- La Brède, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.6816, -0.5272
- Mérimée Reference
- PA33000017
In La Brède, the church of Saint-Jean d'Etampes combines a 12th-century Saintongean Romanesque façade with a 19th-century neo-Romanesque nave designed by Gustave Alaux - a dialogue of stones between two eras.
History
In the heart of the village of La Brède, in the verdant Bordeaux region made famous by Montesquieu's château, the church of Saint-Jean d'Etampes offers an architectural lesson in two parts. It is unlike any other: its western façade, a precious Romanesque vestige from the twelfth century, converses seamlessly with a nave entirely rebuilt in the nineteenth century, in a masterful neo-Romanesque style. This palimpsest of stone testifies to the continuity of a village community that has never ceased to care for its religious building. What makes Saint-Jean d'Etampes truly unique is its preserved western façade, typical of the Saintonge Romanesque style: a refined decorative vocabulary of ornate voussoirs, blind arcatures and finely chiselled sculptures, typical of the workshops active between Saintonge and Bordeaux in the 12th century. In the face of so many medieval churches razed or trivialised during the 19th century, the decision to conserve and integrate this Romanesque screen is remarkable in itself. The Bordeaux architect Gustave Alaux, who was in charge of the reconstruction between 1854 and 1864, demonstrated a rare historical sensitivity for his time. Where many of his contemporaries would have tabula rasa, he opted for respect and continuity, slightly modifying the old façade to link it with the new body without betraying its spirit. This is a far cry from pastiche: the overall effect is one of formal coherence and serenity that will appeal to the most attentive visitor. A visit to the church is a natural part of a walk through the village of La Brède, a short distance from the famous château where Charles de Secondat, Baron de Montesquieu, was born. The bocage setting, the old blonde stones of the Romanesque facade caressed by the light of Gironde, and the calm of the village make this a contemplative stop-off, ideal for reflection as well as photography.
Architecture
The western façade of Saint-Jean d'Etampes church is the architectural jewel of the building. Typical of 12th-century Saintonge Romanesque, it is distinguished by its composition of superimposed registers, punctuated by blind arcatures and engaged columns with capitals carved with foliage and animal motifs. The central portal is highlighted by finely moulded semi-circular arches framed by colonnettes, while the cornice modelling bears witness to the mastery of the stonemasons working in this region between Saintonge and Bordeaux. The golden-white local limestone gives the façade its characteristic luminosity. The nave, rebuilt by Gustave Alaux between 1854 and 1864, adopts a coherent neo-Romanesque style, taking care not to overwhelm the old façade. The side elevations, punctuated by flat buttresses and round-arched bays with soberly moulded archivolts, continue the Romanesque spirit without slavishly plagiarising it. The interior, covered by a pointed barrel vault on double slats, offers a well-balanced and spacious space. The slightly raised choir is lit by high windows that bathe the whole space in a subdued light that is conducive to contemplation. The link between the medieval façade and the 19th-century nave is in itself an architectural curiosity: Alaux had to adapt the proportions and levels of the junction to ensure visual continuity, slightly modifying the Romanesque façade without altering its essence. The materials used - Bordeaux limestone cut in medium thickness - guarantee a chromatic unity despite the difference of almost seven centuries between the two parts of the building.
Related Figures
Gustave Alaux — architecte bordelais, maître d'œuvre de la reconstruction néo-romane (1854-1864)Charles de Secondat, baron de Montesquieu — philosophe des Lumières né au château de La Brède, figure tutélaire du villageLes tailleurs de pierre saintongeais du XIIe siècle — artisans anonymes auteurs de la façade romane originelle
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes located?
Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes is located in La Brède, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes built?
Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Jean d'Etampes is currently closed to visitors.