Chapelle de la Villa Algérienne L'Herbe

"Gorgeous chapel which was built in 1863 by Léon Lesca and his brother that purchased a vast estate on the edge of the Bassin, between the place known as 'le Boque' in Cap Ferret and Claouey.

Back from Algeria, the public works contractor had a fabulous complex built, the highlight of which was the "Algerian Villa"—surrounded by a park with a wide variety of exotic species.

Over the years, Léon Lesca developed and transformed his estate. He created fish tanks, managed the forest and oyster beds, planted a vineyard, and built a dozen houses for his staff, a school, a jetty, a presbytery, and a chapel.

Only the back wall of the "cave," a rock bridge, two vat rooms, and the Sainte-Marie du Cap chapel remain today.

The architect J.E. Ormières designed this neo-Moorish style building for Catholic worship in 1885. On the bell tower, the parallels between the cross and the crescent moon, and the Latin and Arabic inscriptions reflect the cultural influences of the patron.

The polychromy, the presence of ceramic tiles with geometric and floral motifs, and the use of the horseshoe arch, here polylobed, are all elements that reflect the influence of Moorish architecture.

The chapel was blessed on September 8, 1885, by Father Lacouture. For a long time, it remained the only place of worship on the peninsula; people came there on foot through the forest or by pinnace from Arcachon. The first and only chaplain was Father Noailles.

Today, owned by the town of Lège-Cap Ferret and listed as a historic monument since 2008, it is still used for Catholic worship."

Enjoy life

"A highlight for a foto. The archithecture is quiete unique and the location.
Inside it is also nice decorated with shipmodel and fishernet."

R. Ant

"Unexpected catholic church with maure influence - looks like a light house x mosque x church"

Christiane Bunnyhill