With a rich medieval history Historic Village

Many legends from the Pays Toy recount the village’s history during the Middle Ages. The village has preserved traditions from the Middle Ages, such as the famous ‘Foire aux côtelettes’, as well as ancestral skills and remarkable architectural treasures.

Fortified church The Legend of the Knights Templar

Its real name is the Church of Saint-André, and it is one of the best-preserved 12th-century religious buildings.

Fortified by the Knights Hospitaller of St John of Jerusalem in the 14th century – and not by the Knights Templar – to protect itself from bands of brigands during periods of unrest, it was subsequently occupied by the Order of Malta in the 18th century.

This church incorporates architectural features typical of a medieval fortress, including the remains of a drawbridge, battlements, arrow slits, and two towers – one known as the Arsenal and the other which served as a keep (now fitted with a clock). A remarkable vault depicting Christ and the four Evangelists adorns the entrance. Within the ramparts, tombs bear witness to the presence of a former cemetery. In the chancel, the gilded vault depicting Saint Andrew alongside Jesus, together with the 18th-century Baroque high altar and tabernacle, harmoniously illuminate the interior spaces of the building.

The Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy, built in the 17th century as a votive offering dedicated to the Virgin Mary following the terrible plague of 1650, now houses the Treasury Museum, an exhibition space for sacred art, the oldest of which dates back to the 13th century. Victor Hugo sketched this unique church from his bedroom window during his stay in Luz in 1843.

Open daily from 8.45 am to 7 pm.

Listen to the podcast

2-PODCAST_EGLISE_TEMPLIERS_FR_Luztourisme.

Ruins of Sainte-Marie Castle Dive into history

The building was probably constructed as early as the 12th century by the Counts of Bigorre, next to a former priory dedicated to Saint Mary, to consolidate their authority over the people of Barège and to find shelter in the event of an attack by them.

In 1843, Victor Hugo visited the castle in person and sketched it, producing several drawings.

Have a stroll over to the castle

A charming old town (…)

(…) delightfully situated in a deep triangular valley. Three broad beams of sunlight stream in through the three gaps in the three mountains. When the Spanish constables and smugglers arrived from Aragon via the Brèche de Roland, they would suddenly catch sight, at the far end of the dark gorge, of a great brightness, much like the entrance to a cellar appears to those inside. They hurried on and found a large, sunlit and bustling village.
They named this village Lumière, Luz.

Victor Hugo

Have a look around a bit more... Our 3 great ideas

Listening to songs Concert

The mountain folk singing groups, the Orphéon and the Chanteurs de la Croix de Sia, perform regularly at the Templars’ Church.

Get your diary out!

Visit the Treasure Museum Exhibition

Adjoining the church, the Chapel of Our Lady of Mercy houses an exhibition of sacred art, the oldest pieces of which date back to the 13th century.

More info

Go back in time Medieval Festival in the Toy Region

Château Sainte-Marie is brought back to life in the era of troubadours and knights during grand medieval festivals held every other year in mid-August (the next one will be in 2027).

Get your diary out!

Stroll amongst the monuments Two historical walks

Let your light shine! The origin of the name Luz?

The origin of the name ‘Luz’ is unclear.

Whilst it has long been associated with ‘light’, in connection with the Latin lux and the Spanish luz, this idea stems mainly from poetic and tourist interpretations, particularly as the Romans left little mark on the region.

Experts tend instead to favour an origin linked to the terrain, derived from Basque or Occitan, suggesting a ‘marshy’ or ‘muddy’ place, which corresponds to the geography of the village, situated at the confluence of several streams.

The mystery remains, however, particularly given the existence of similar Occitan words that also refer to light.