Industrial · Churches

Église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz

Biarritz

Église Sainte-Eugénie de Biarritz is a church building located in Biarritz, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques. Dedicated to Sainte Eugénie, it is described as a grey stone neo-Gothic church dominating the Port Vieux. Construction lasted from 1898 to 1903, and it replaced the Notre-Dame-de-Pitié chapel on the same site. The bell tower was begun in 1927, and the bells were installed in 1931.

The church contains exceptional stained glass windows by Luc-Olivier Merson. Its crypt houses the tomb of priest Gaston Larre, the first priest of the parish in 1884, who decided the modification of the original small chapel. The crypt also hosts art exhibitions of the city. The church depends on the parish Notre-Dame-du-Rocher and forms it jointly with the communities of Saint-Joseph church, Saint-Charles church, Saint-Martin church, the chapel du Saint-Esprit du Braou, and Sainte-Thérèse church of Biarritz. Since 2012, it has been served by the Saint-Martin community, at the request of Aillet, bishop of Bayonne.

Map showing the location of Église Sainte-Eugénie in Biarritz
Location of Église Sainte-Eugénie in Biarritz

Nearby Objects

Parish Setting and Ecclesiastical Organization

The church is located in Biarritz, in the Pyrenees-Atlantiques, and it depends on the parish of Notre-Dame-du-Rocher. This parish is formed jointly by several communities, including Saint-Joseph church, Saint-Charles church, Saint-Martin church, the chapel du Saint-Esprit du Braou, and Sainte-Therese church of Biarritz. Since 2012, the church has been served by the Saint-Martin community. This arrangement was requested by Aillet, bishop of Bayonne. The facts provided mainly place the church within a wider parish structure and show its connection to the local ecclesiastical organization in Biarritz.

Sainte-Eugenie Church at Port Vieux

Sainte-Eugenie Church is a grey stone neo-Gothic church dominating the Port Vieux. It is dedicated to Sainte Eugenie, the patroness of Napoleons III wife, Empress Eugenie de Montijo. The church was built between 1898 and 1903, and it replaced the Notre-Dame-de-Pitie chapel on the same site. Its bell tower was begun in 1927, and the bells were installed in 1931. The interior includes exceptional stained glass windows by Luc-Olivier Merson, which are among its notable artistic features.

The Crypt and Its Uses

The crypt of Eglise Sainte-Eugenie de Biarritz houses the tomb of priest Gaston Larre, who became the first priest of the parish in 1884. Larre also decided the modification of the original small chapel, linking his role to the early development of the site. In addition to its funerary function, the crypt is used by the city to host art exhibitions, giving the space a public cultural role.