In 1863, Léon Lesca and his brother purchased a vast estate on the edge of Bassin, between the hamlet of Le Boque in Cap Ferret and Claouey.
Upon his return from Algeria, this public works entrepreneur had a fabulous complex built, the centerpiece of which was the “Villa Algérienne,” surrounded by a park filled with a wide variety of exotic plants.
Over the years, Léon Lesca developed his estate, created fish ponds, exploited the forest and oyster beds, planted a vineyard, and built a dozen houses for his staff, a school, a pier, a presbytery, and a chapel.
All that remains today are the back wall of the “cave,” a rock bridge, two vats, and the Sainte-Marie du Cap chapel.
In 1885, architect J.E. Ormières designed this neo-Moorish style building for Catholic worship.
On the bell tower, the cross and crescent moon, Latin and Arabic inscriptions reflect the influences of the patron.
The polychromy, the presence of ceramic tiles with geometric and floral motifs, and the use of the horseshoe arch, here poly-lobed, are all elements that reflect the influence of Moorish architecture.
The chapel was blessed on September 8, 1885, by Father Lacouture and remained the only place of worship on the peninsula for a long time.
People came here on foot through the forest or by pinasse from Arcachon.
The first and only chaplain was Father Noailles.
Today, it is owned by the town of Lège-Cap Ferret, listed as a historic monument since 2008, and is still used for Catholic worship.
In June 2011, a complete renovation was completed.
The Algerian Chapel of Sainte-Marie du Cap
Bd de la Plage,
33970 Lège-Cap-Ferret
Tel.: 05 56 03 84 00
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