Once again, found me older pictures not in my blog relating to this church,(see post) . It was a nice visit after passing several times by Pau on my way to Spain, always a memorable stop. This is Pau down in the Pyrénées Atlantiques department in 64 in the region of Nouvelle Aquitaine, and in my belle France. Folks come here for the views of the Pyrénées from the boulevard des Pyrénées, the Castle, and the tour de France which passes by here almost every year. However, we love to walk around and go into different places in town. I like to tell you more of the Church Saint Martin of Pau !!!, simply because it is related in history to the castle (see post) been just around it. It is a nice church worth a detour in town, me think, Hope you enjoy the post as I
The Church Saint Martin consists of a central nave, flanked by two secondary naves, a transept (the arm of the Cross), a chorus (the head of Christ) completed by a seven-piece apse cut, and four other flanks, two square and two of polygonal shape. The Church definitive location was only chosen in 1860, the old hotel Gontaut of which family was expulsed by imperial decree of 1856. The first stone was laid in 1863 and the works finally began in 1864. The church was inaugurated in 1871. The materials used are the stone of Arudy and the clearer stone of Angoulême . The dimensions are 71 meters long,36 meters wide, and 77 meters high of bell tower.
The high altar is covered by the ciborium, which rests on four fine columns of white marble, the spherical cap is gilded copper. Christ in Majesty is at the center of the Tabernacle, and on both sides the emblems of the four Evangelists, in repelled and gilded copper, are detached.
It has a Werner organ as well as a carillon. Inside, a painting by the painter Eugène Devéria and precious objects were offered by
Queen Isabel II, who was driven from Spain and donated them during her visit to Pau in 1868. Queen Isabel II (Elizabeth), expelled from Spain, notably donated precious objects during her visit to Pau in 1868. The painter Jules Courtignes is at the origin of the large polychrome decoration of the choir. The tables of the eleven scenes of the New Testament are, as for them, the work of Paul Hyppolite Flandrin. In addition, the church has a Werner organ and a remarkable carillon. Finally, one of Eugène Déveria’s paintings, produced in 1843 and entitled “The Resurrection of Christ”, prestigiously adorns one of the walls of the church. The life of Saint Martin is also represented on a rosette of 24 stained glass windows located in the church.
A bit of history I like tell us that the Church Saint Martin is located in the heart of the city at the gates of the Castle of Pau district. A first St. Martin Church was built between 1468 and 1472 on a site opposite the castle of Pau where a small Chapel occupied the location of the present Place de la Deportation near the castle. This chapel was enlarged in 1468 by the decision of Viscount Gaston IV and became the Church St Martin which will remain the only parish church of Pau until 1801. Under the influence of the Albret family, the church became a Protestant temple between 1563 and 1620. Too cramped for the population of the district, the Church St. Martin was replaced in 1871 by a new sanctuary placed a little further east. It will therefore be decided to destroy the old Church St. Martin in 1885. Only its steeple remains; it is the current tower of the Parliament of Navarre.
The new Church St Martin is of Gothic architecture with Byzantine influences. A ciborium covers the altar. The warhead of the arcades is overridden, a form of Moorish inspiration. This is found in the broken arch, the ribbed arches, the elongated windows, the hooks and the foliage that adorn the capitals. The stained glass windows are the collaboration of Boeswillwad with the painter glassmaker Louis Steinheil, quite famous at the time for his works at the Holy Chapel (Sainte Chapelle of Paris) already in collaboration with Boeswillwald.
The Church Saint Martin is located in the heart of the City in the neighrborhood of Saint Martin at 3 rue Gontaut-de-Biron at the gates of the Castle of Pau.
The city of Pau on the church: https://www.pau.fr/article/le-saviezvous–leglise-saintmartin
The Pau Pyrénées tourist office on the church/garden : https://www.pau-pyrenees.com/pau/square-saint-martin/tabid/315/offreid/69fd85d6-76d7-41f4-9d77-92a7dc03cf65
There you go folks, a dandy church in wonderful Pau, worth the detour, We like it and the grand square in front of it. Again, hope you enjoy the post on more of the Church Saint Martin of Pau !!! as I
And remember, happy travels, good health ,and many cheers to all !!!
Paris1972-Versailles2003 