We demonstrate the fabrication of one-dimensional metallodielectric Bragg stacks (MDBSs) from 500 nm spincoated poly(methyl methacrylate) and 20 nm evaporated Au layers; one-, two-, and three-bilayer structures are achieved with good homogeneity (Ͻ2% thickness variation). The linear reflection and transmission spectra show very strong modulation relative to the constituent materials for only a few bilayers; transmission windows associated with sharp Bragg resonances are observed at ϳ600 and

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... nm, while other regions provide reflections of Ͼ90%. Nonlinear absorption was measured by a z-scan technique and is observed to be enhanced at the Bragg resonances. The ϳ600 nm peak of the three-bilayer MDBS is enhanced by approximately seven times compared to a single Au film. The wavelength dependence of the nonlinear enhancement can be correlated with the attenuation parameter. The experimental results are in good agreement with numerical simulations based on a transfer-matrix method employing the known physical and optical parameters. The MDBSs show strong potential as versatile and inexpensive components for optical devices.