CHURCH OF SAINT MARTIN D'ARBOUIX

About us

The exposed stone Saint-Martin church, located on a hill, would have been Romanesque, but it was restored (very restored) in the XNUMXth century. Rectangular bell tower (barlong). The apse has a few modillions sculpted in the form of balls (besants).
It is surrounded by its cemetery. Moreover, in the XNUMXth century, a sacred stone kept inside had the reputation of causing rain if it was soaked in a stream.
This church is the origin of the legend of the dragon of Lake Isaby. The inhabitants of the village having succeeded in ridding the region of a huge dragon, used its ribs to form the framework of their chapel. Barely built, it caused incessant rains. The inhabitants then had to rebuild their church with more traditional materials.
Inside, the large painting of the crucifixion shows us Saint Martin and in the background Saint Peter. The gilded wooden tabernacle is relatively laden with bas-reliefs and statuettes. The central part represents Christ Ecce Homo, a recurring subject with Jean BRUNELO. It is surmounted by God the Father, emerging from its semicircular pediment, and he himself is found under a Virgin and Child. The whole is framed by two caryatids. The wings of the tabernacle, set back from the chest, are covered with bas-reliefs and statuettes in their niche. Those at the ends represent two bishops: Saint Martin and, it is commonly thought, Saint Blaise.

Sources: www.patrimoines-lourdes-gavarnie.fr

• Theme(s):

  Church, Sacred art