Église Saint Laurent, Cambo-les-Bains, Catholic church in Cambo-les-Bains, France.
The Église Saint Laurent is a church in Cambo-les-Bains with a single nave that ends in a polygonal apse. Its side walls hold three levels of carved wooden galleries that define the interior space.
The present church was built in the first half of the 17th century on the site of a 12th-century predecessor. Its octagonal bell tower with a tall spire replaced a triangular-roofed tower above the porch at the end of the 19th century. The building was listed as a historical monument in 2012 and restored between 2017 and 2019.
The wooden galleries inside were reserved only for men until the 1960s, a practice rooted in local Basque customs of the region.
The church stands in the bourg of Cambo, its entrance porch beneath the former meeting room of the jurats. The interior was restored between 2017 and 2019, and the stained-glass windows in 2019. The building is known for its acoustics and often hosts concerts, including Basque choir performances.
The sundial painted on the facade carries the Latin motto "Dubia Omnibus Ultima Multis", meaning the hour is uncertain for all and the last for many. The octagonal bell tower replaced a triangular-roofed predecessor in the late 19th century.
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