Notre-Dame de Buglose Basilica

The sanctuary of Notre-Dame de Buglose was built from 1850 to 1865 in the commune of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul, which was called Pouy until 1828 before being renamed in honour of Vincent de Paul, a native of the area (at the Ranquines farm) in 1581. The basilica now houses the famous statue of which it is a showcase for Marian devotion. Another particularity, the carillon, one of the most beautiful in France, consists of 60 bells. In reality forty bells are used, the others have been silenced to give more homogeneity to the sound.

About this building

Four centuries ago, a statue of the Virgin and Child was discovered in the Buglose marshes near Dax. It had been hidden there in 1570, during the Wars of Religion, to protect it from the troops of Montgomery's Huguenot, who destroyed the representations of Mary and the saints. The statue was then placed on an improvised altar. Then the bishop ordered it to be transported to the nearby parish, but the team would not move forward. So a chapel was built on the spot. Inaugurated on Whit Monday 1622, the chapel where the statue was located gave way to a wooden church in 1624. The present church of Buglose was built between 1850 and 1855. It was equipped with a carillon of 29 bells in 1895, before it was completed and now has 60 bells. Finally, in 1966, Pope Paul VI granted the building the title of Minor Basilica. This title can be seen by a sort of half-open "large parasol", called an ombrellino, placed on the left side of the choir.

Key Features

  • Architecture
  • Monuments
  • Interior features

Visitors information

  • Parking within 250m
  • Muddy boot friendly
  • Building shop or souvenirs

Other nearby buildings

Wikimedia Commons

Chapel of Saint-Vincent de Paul

The Cradle of Saint-Vincent-de-Paul is located in a private sanctuary and site. The foundation of the chapel and the sanctuary were recognized as being of public utility in 1865. Since the 19th century, the site has worked to implement and make known the message of Saint Vincent: to serve the most needy in a spirit of simplicity, humility and charity, to go out to meet others, to welcome, care for, educate, form and evangelize. Thus, a hospice, an orphanage and a hostel were built.

Dax Cathedral

At the end of the 13th century, in the midst of a period of prosperity, the Bishopric had a series of ecclesiastical buildings built, including a new cathedral built on an old Romanesque sanctuary that had become too small. This building collapsed in 1646, and the construction of the current building was built from 1656 to 1719 on Vauban's plans, and was not completely completed until 1894. Of the 13th century building, only the old gate rebuilt in the north arm remains. This portal is called the Apostles' portal.

Wikimedia Commons/Franck-fnba

Église de la Madeleine

The church of St. Mary Magdalene, commonly known as the Magdalene Church, was built between 1825 and 1829. At least two churches existed before the present church, one Romanesque and the other Gothic from the 14th century. Both churches were Benedictine priories dependent on the abbey of Saint-Sever. The present church was built on the ruins of the latter church, which collapsed on 10 April 1821.