Visit the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, where Louis XIV was married

Historians claim that a Romanesque church on the same site as the current building stood there as early as the 12th century. It was the epicentre of the village, with several houses surrounding it. But Saint-Jean-de-Luz suffered the ravages of successive wars, with English domination, the Hundred Years' War and Spanish invasions. The church burned to the ground, but some of its remains remain intact (the blacked-out windows, for example).

In the 16th century, thanks to whaling, cod fishing and trade with the West Indies, Saint-Jean-de-Luz became prosperous and the population grew accordingly. The decision was taken in 1630 to completely rebuild the building. The work lasted 50 years, and at the time of the King's wedding, the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste was still in the midst of construction!

The church is best known to history as the place where Louis XIV (the Sun King) married Maria Theresa of Austria (the Child of Spain) in June 1660. The location was decided by Mazarin, who wanted to put an end to the famous Thirty Years' War between Spain and France. The King and his court arrived in Saint-Jean-de-Luz a month before the wedding. No fewer than 50 gentlemen, a guard of 100 horses and 300 infantrymen crammed into the little town!

This major event left its mark on the city. So much so that certain buildings were renamed after the royal visit: the Joanoenia house, which welcomed the future queen during her stay, was renamed "the House of the Infanta". Although the reason for the marriage was essentially political, the couple were nonetheless happy: accounts say that when Louis XIV left the church, he was radiant and full of attention for his new wife. Their marriage proved fruitful, with six children born to them.

9 years after the royal wedding, the door through which the bride and groom entered the church was walled up so that no one could ever use it again. No one knows whether this decision was taken on the king's orders or on the church's initiative.

The appearance of the church

The interior of St John the Baptist church follows a simple plan with a single wide nave and a short transept that is only slightly wider than the nave. Its real originality lies in its mix of styles: the multi-level balconies and white walls of the nave are typical of Basque churches, while the altar and transept have Italian influences.

The altar, made of carved wood covered in gold, completely fills the back of the church. With its rows of statues representing saints, its complex decoration and its large size, it is particularly impressive. Most of the interior furniture dates from the 17th century, as does a pulpit and a relief of Saint Ambrose.

⭐ Apartment Loquin