Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste — Attraction in Bayonne

What a wonderful and historic church. The cool, dark interior is dominated by vaulted ceilings and a magnificent Baroque altarpiece of carved, guilded wood that takes up the entire height of the back wall of the apse, and the two wings that flank it.

The wooden galleries - reserved for men - are typical of the Basque Country.

The building is steeped in history with Louis XIV and María Teresa, daughter of King Philip IV of Spain, being married in 1660 (while the church was still under construction).

Visiting is an absolute must if you are...

This is a MUST DO if you are here on a Sunday! Yes, it is amazing g architecture znd decore, but it is a church and to hear the organ, the singing that fills the interior and participate was wonderful experience. There was paper outline to follow, very helpful for us English speaking Protestants. We went to the 10:30AM service and were so glad we got there 20 minutes early, as there was standing room only when the church bells...

法国 圣让－德吕兹 Saint-Jean-de-Luz的圣让巴蒂斯特教堂Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste：海与信仰的永恒盟誓

Rue Léon Gambetta, 64500 Saint-Jean-de-Luz, 法国

在圣让－德吕兹的海湾怀抱里，圣让巴蒂斯特教堂像一艘石制的方舟，停泊在时间的长河中。它的赭石色外墙被大西洋的海风浸染了四个世纪，每一块斑驳的砖石都在诉说着巴斯克渔人与海洋的永恒对话。 晨光初现时，教堂洋葱状的穹顶最先接住朝阳。那铜绿色的钟楼尖顶，宛如指向苍穹的船桅，而随风飘来的钟声，则像是为远航者吟唱的安魂曲。走进厚重的橡木大门，海的气息突然被隔断，取而代之的是蜡烛、冷石和古老木材混合的沉静芬芳。阳光透过彩窗斜斜地切进来，在花岗岩地面上投下宝石般的色块，仿佛海底折射的光斑。 最动人的是那些被渔妇们摩挲得发亮的木雕圣像。圣母的裙裾处留着几代人的指纹，圣彼得手中的渔网结着真实的绳结——这是渔民们亲手系上的祈愿。侧廊悬挂的渔船模型随着穿堂风轻轻摇晃，那些微型帆船曾在暴风雨中保佑过真正的渔船平安归来。 1660年的某个夏日，这里曾见证太阳王与西班牙公主的联姻。想象那些绣着金线的礼服如何擦过这些石柱，烛光如何在钻石项链上碎裂成星。但教堂记得更深的，是无数个平凡日子里，渔妇们黑色头纱下的低声祷告，是老水手粗糙的手划过玫瑰经珠的触感，是受洗婴儿的啼哭与葬礼钟声的和鸣。 退潮时分，站在教堂广场的石阶上，能同时听见弥撒的管风琴与海浪的韵律。圣让巴蒂斯特教堂始终保持着微妙的平衡——既是皇家婚礼的华美舞台，又是渔民的朴素庇护所；既是陆地的终点，又是航海的起点。当暮色将它的轮廓慢慢融化进海平线时，你会明白：这座石砌的圣所，本身就是一首关于永恒与变迁的散文诗。

法国圣让－德吕兹（Saint-Jean-de-Luz）的圣让巴蒂斯特教堂（Église...