Association les Amis de la Chapelle de Saint ‑Maclou

The Church of Saint-André in Sauveterre-de-Béarn is a Romanesque-Gothic structure built in the 12th century.

Fortified at its base, the church played a role in the town’s defense, featuring a bell tower that also served as a keep.

Standing 27 meters tall, this tower boasts beautiful twin-arched windows that soften its military appearance.

The imposing semicircular apse, flanked by two smaller apsidal chapels, provides a harmonious structural anchor for the building.

Above the main entrance, the tympanum depicts Christ in Majesty surrounded by the four Evangelists in symbolic form: Saint Matthew (the angel), Saint Mark (the lion), Saint John (the eagle), and Saint Luke (the ox).

The interior reflects the transition between the Romanesque and Gothic styles.

On the north wall, the “Cagots’ door” serves as a reminder of this marginalized group—reputedly descended from lepers, Visigoths, or destitute outcasts—who were once shunned by society.

Text: Internet source