Abbey of Saint-Vincent de Lucq
Abbaye Saint-Vincent de Lucq / Sylva Bona / Luco / Lucus
(Lucq-de-Béarn, Pyrénées-Atlantiques)
According to tradition, the Frankish king Childebert I (c. 496-558), returning to Paris after the siege of Saragossa, participated in the foundation of a chapel dedicated to Saint-Vincent on this site. According to legend, around 970, the Duke of Gascony, William Sancho (c. 925-996) and his wife Urraca donated the site to the monk Garsias of Vasconia to found a monastery, an operation in which Viscount Gaston I of Béarn († 984) also took part.
The lack of documentation prevents us from knowing the history of this monastery, but it is known that the Viscounts of Béarn became its protectors, confirming the first donations and making others, which allowed the creation of a remarkable patrimony. In the 13th and 14th centuries, there is evidence of internal problems in the community due to a relaxation of customs. The monastery had two churches, Saint-Vincent and Saint-Michel, both run by clerics.
In 1569, the monastery was attacked by Protestants and suffered losses and serious damage. The convent church remained in the hands of the Calvinists for many years until 1610, when it was retaken by a community of Barnabites who occupied the premises until the Revolution. The outbuildings were put up for sale, while the church was kept as a parish. The church, which dates back to the 12th century and has undergone many alterations and modifications, still stands today, along with other ruined outbuildings and a part that was restored and occupied by the Barnabites in the last period. An ancient sarcophagus, probably from the 4th or 5th century, was found in the church and is now an altar.
Ancient sarcophagus
Ancient sarcophagus
- BACQUÈS, Henri (1879). Souvenirs du Béarn, notes archéologiques, historiques et physiologiques. París: Dentu
- BARRAU-DIHIGO, Louis; i altres (1905). Cartulaire de Saint-Vincent-de-Lucq. Pau: Empérauger
- BEAUNIER, Dom (1910). Abbayes et prieurés de l'ancienne France. Vol. 3: Auch, Bordeaux. Abbaye de Ligugé
- CHAREYRE, Philippe (2018). Les vestiges du temple de Lucq de Béarn. Bulletin du Centre d'Etude du Protestantisme Béarnais, núm. 63
- DUBARAT, Victor (1902). L’Abbaye de Lucq en Béarn au quatorzième siècle. Mélanges Léonce Couture. Tolosa de Ll.: Privat
- H.B. (1845). Luc et son Abbaye. Le Mémorial des Pyrénées, 02-02-1845. Pau
- MARCA, Pierre de (1640). Histoire de Bearn. París: J. Camusat
- MENJOULET, J.-Maximien (1864-69). Chronique du Diocèse et du pays d'Oloron, Béarn méridional et Soule. Oloron: Marque
- SAINT-MAUR, Congregació de (1715). Gallia Christiana in provincias ecclesiasticas distributa. Vol. 1. París: Coignard
The monastery of Lucq is located in the Bearne region, to the west of Pau, in the Pyrénées-Atlantiques department.