Temple du Hâ, Protestant church in Bordeaux, France.
The Temple du Hâ is a Protestant church in Bordeaux with a Baroque facade of pale masonry. Its top has a triangular pediment above a rectangular section with a central niche between two round windows; scroll ornaments flank a carved shield, and a blue round-arched double door sits between two pairs of columns with carved capitals. Inside, the nave has two rows of wooden pews and a central pulpit above the communion table.
Henri Roche led construction of the chapel from 1625 for the congregation founded by Jeanne de Lestonnac, niece of Michel de Montaigne; sources give completion as 1628 or 1638. The nave was rebuilt after the 1751 earthquake, and during the Revolution the building served as a fodder store. Napoleon assigned it to Reformed worship in 1803, and the first service was held on 1 December 1805 under pastor Martin.
The name comes from the neighbouring Fort du Hâ, which served as a refuge for Bordeaux's Reformed community after the 1572 St Bartholomew's Day massacre. The parish belongs to the United Protestant Church of France and also manages the city's Protestant cemetery. Since the 1860s a Protestant school has stood nearby on Rue du Commandant Arnould, now home to the Diaconat de Bordeaux, the Hâ 32 cultural centre and the Bordeaux branch of Cimade.
The church sits on Rue du Hâ in central Bordeaux, making it easy to find on foot while walking through the city. Check opening times in advance, as it may have restricted access during private worship services.
The facade once carried statues that have since disappeared, and a Baroque altarpiece from the choir now stands in the parish church of Pessac. The building is named after the nearby Fort du Hâ, which in 1572 sheltered Reformed worshippers after the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 92,847 contributors worldwide.