ÉGLISE NOTRE-DAME DU BON PORT DE GAVARNIE

About

A hospice of Templars or Knights of St. John of Jerusalem, intended to assist travellers passing through the port of Boucharo, is mentioned in the sources as early as 1257 and 1270. This establishment, which became a hospital, had a chapel, which was the origin of the present parish church, and which took the name of Notre-Dame du Bon Port in the 14th century. It is at this time that the chapel could have been enlarged. Indeed, it seems that the northern part of the church is older (12th century). The old base of a tower that supported the old bell tower and the spiral staircase can still be seen there.
In the modern era, the church underwent new developments such as the installation of a barrel vault and the installation of the baroque altarpiece in the choir. The church was given a gallery with side galleries.
In 1820, the remains of the old hospital could still be seen in the vicinity of the church. The rigours of the climate are such that at this date the church collapses in the middle, dragging the bell tower. An estimate is established in 1823 for its quasi reconstruction as well as the addition of a sacristy on the site of an old square building adjacent to the sanctuary. The adjudication of the work takes place in January 1826. During this time, the Sieur BELLOU of Gavarnie rents, for 200 francs per annum, a house which he has in the village to be used as provisional church and presbytery. Again collapsed for defects, the new construction of the church must be resumed after 1838. A new altar was put in place in 1842. In 1851, it was decided to rebuild the bell tower by reusing old solid masonry in the north-east of the church, which would allow for the construction of an additional chapel. The tender was awarded in August 1854 but the work dragged on until 1878. The construction of a portal on the south elevation and the addition of a new tribune followed this work (1884).
In 1910, stained glass windows by Louis GESTA were installed. The roof was recently restored.
Concerning the furniture of the church, the statue of the Virgin and Child in polychrome wood from the 14th century, classified as a historical monument, is the only vestige of the medieval furniture of the church. The neo-Gothic altarpiece was installed in the 19th century, against the eastern elevation, replacing an older Baroque altarpiece and contemporary with the two 17th century statues of pilgrims which are now installed in the northern chapel.
A new campaign of embellishment of the church seems to date from the second half of the 18th century. The polychrome marble high altar, the marquetry altar step and several polychrome wooden statues preserved in the nave are evidence of this
In 1710, one could admire numerous relics accumulated by the Hospitallers and of which the Grand Prior of Toulouse made an inventory. In the church, one could find no more and no less than: a vial of the Virgin’s milk, a bone from the arm of Saint Lawrence, wood from the cross of Jesus Christ, bread from the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves, wood from Aaron’s rod, stone from the Last Supper table, a skull bone and a tooth from Saint John the Baptist, bones from Saint Magdalene, iron from the gate of Saint Bartholomew and two sticks curing rabies. Around 1800, (Ramond’s testimony): the skulls of 12 “Templars” (Knights of Malta) can be seen on a beam near the tribune. They are now installed in a showcase at the back of the church, near the confessional
A contemporary effigy of St. James has recently been installed.
The church is on one of the routes to Santiago de Compostela and is therefore a World Heritage Site.

Sources: patrimoines.laregion.fr / loucrup65.fr Traduction automatique par DeepL via DATAtourisme

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