It is an “exceptional” discovery for Rémi Desalbres, heritage architect. With the company Arc&Sites Architectes du Patrimoine, they unveiled Templar paintings that allow confirm the presence of the order of the Templars at the end of the 12th century in Linxe, in the Landes. The architect tells France Bleu Gascogne about this discovery.
France Bleu Gascogne: why were you interested in the church of Linxe?
Rémi Desalbres: I have been working on churches on the Aquitaine coast for several years, being myself from the area. Two years ago, the association of friends of the Saint-Martin de Linxe church was formed. Its members have asked me for advice, to undertake the restoration of the site. I advised carrying out soundings, inside, because I knew that this church was one of those fortified on the coast of the Landes. I suspected vestiges, decorations on the vaults of the heart.
– DR
Obviously, the operation was conclusive.
Yes, after a 2nd survey campaign, we came across these quite exceptional Templar decorations. In particular large crosses and trees of life with strong symbolic value in red tones. A very little known setting, in Aquitaine.
What are the consequences of such a discovery?
It completely changes the knowledge that we have of the churches of the Aquitaine coast. This discovery confirms the Templar presence and the role of the Templars, the military order of the Knights Templar, during the late 12th and early 13th centuries. This discovery confirms that it was the Templars who led the transformation of this small Romanesque church into a large fortified church. It also confirms the presence of a coastal route, taken by pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela. At the end of the 12th, beginning of the 13th century, the Templars had the mission of securing the route of the pilgrims, who went to Santiago de Compostela by the coastal route. It is precisely this discovery which makes it possible to confirm the role of the Templars in the Landes, in Aquitaine. It is an exceptional discovery!
I am not sure I will have other opportunities to discover such complete Templar paintings in my career
There were doubts about the existence of this path?
If certain routes are well known to get to Santiago de Compostela, in particular the paths of Conques, by Toulouse and the Pyrenees, this coastal route has been disputed by historians. Finally, this way was well organized, and it is this discovery which makes it possible to attest it. That is to say that it is truly a secure path, which allowed the English, the Dutch, the pilgrims from northern Europe, to go on the path. This is the proof that we lacked. It is a rare discovery that was made in Linxe, an exceptional discovery for the history of art, and the knowledge of this period of the Middle Ages, in Aquitaine. I am not sure that I will have other opportunities to discover such complete and interesting Templar paintings in my career.
– DR
Will the association be able to finance the work to unveil all the paintings?
Currently, the church is not protected as historical monuments. So, we are going to initiate, with the mayor, a request to the regional directorate of cultural affairs, to seek protection. It will allow the municipality that owns the building to benefit from subsidies.