Madeleine Church

The Madeleine Church before you is the largest religious building in the city. When Mont-de-Marsan was founded around the 12th century, it chose Saint Mary Magdalene, an important figure in the history of Christianity, as its patron saint. This made Mont-de-Marsan an important stopover on the Way of Saint James pilgrimage route. The current edifice was built in 1821, following the partial collapse of the original 14th-century building. And since the neighborhood was undergoing a major renovation at the time, the church was designed to match the surrounding buildings. They thus built a church with no reliefs and a north-facing entrance, rather than an east-facing one as was customary. The Madeleine Church has been listed as a historical monument since 1975, and features a beautiful marble high altar, complete with wood paneling, and a fresco dedicated to the local saint.