Camille Bonnard (1838)
Bibliothèque nationale de France
The Convent of the Augustinians of Geaune was founded and financed at the beginning of the 15th century by Raymond-Bernard III de Castelnau († d. 1412), lord of Geaune, with the intention of making it a burial site for himself and his ancestors, as stipulated in his will of 1412. In later years, his descendants used the convent as a family mausoleum.
In 1569, the town of Geaune and the convent itself were attacked by Calvinists. The convent was set on fire, but the church was spared. At that time, it was a modest convent with only four friars. Subsequently, it was rebuilt and remained active until the Revolution, albeit with a significantly reduced community. By 1790, when the convent was dissolved, only two friars remained. The church fell into ruin, and by 1793, only the bell tower was still standing.
- HERRERA, Tomás de (1644). Alphabetum augustinianum, vol. 1. Madrid: G. Rodríguez
- LÉGÉ, Joseph (1887). Les Castelnau-Tursan. Aire-sur-l'Adour: Dehez
- SAINT-JOURS, Bernard (1911). La Bastide de Geaune, en Tursan. Bordeaux: Arnaud
Prieuré de Mimizan / Sainte-Marie de Mimizan / Sainte-Marie de Mimizan / Menusano
(Mimizan, Landes)
According to tradition, the current church of Sainte-Marie de Mimizan was built on the supposed site of the martyrdom of Saint Galactorius of Lescar (4th-5th centuries), bishop of that diocese. This church is believed to have suffered from territorial invasions, especially by the Normans, and to have almost entirely disappeared.
Portal (13th century)
Image by Jean-Maurice Poissonnier, on Wikimedia
Once these lands were pacified following the Battle of Taller (982), Duke William Sánchez of Gascony (c. 925-996) founded the abbey of Saint-Sever (Landes). At that time, he granted Sainte-Marie de Mimizan, along with other assets, to this foundation. In 1009, his son, Bernard, confirmed the donation. The Benedictine monastery of Saint-Sever established a priory there, and in the 11th century, the church was rebuilt, undergoing further renovations at the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th.
In 1569, the site suffered the effects of the Wars of Religion, and in 1671, the priory was suppressed. Parochial activity continued until a new church was constructed nearby. By the late 19th century, the building began to deteriorate, and in 1898, it was demolished, leaving only the bell tower. Beneath it, the entrance atrium is preserved, featuring a remarkable portal from the early 13th century.
The church before its demolition (1897)
Photo by Félix Arnaudin
Musée d'Aquitaine Bordeaux
- BEAURAIN, Georges (1903-1904). Le Portail de l'Eglise de Mimizan étudié dans ses rapports avec l'histoire du Costume et du Mobilier au Moyen-Age. Bulletin de la Société de Borda, núm. 28-29. Dax
- BESSE, J.-M. (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Provinces ecclésiastiques d'Auch et de Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- COTTINEAU, Laurent-Henri (1939). Répertoire topo-bibliographique des abbayes et prieurés. Vol. 2. Mâcon: Protat
- DÉPART, L.-A. (1883-85). Mimizan. Notice historique. Bulletin de la société Borda, vol. 8-10. Dax
- DOURTHE, Eugène (1938). Découverte de deux chapiteaux sculptés dans l'emplacement de l'abbaye de Mimizan. Bulletin de la société Borda, vol. 63. Dax