Bordeaux - Sainte-Croix

The late afternoon sun shines on "Sainte-Croix", the church of the former "Abbatiale Sainte-Croix". The abbey was founded in Merovingian times just south of Bordeaux. The exact year is unknown, but it was mentioned already in 679. The abbey was destroyed by the Saracens around 730 and rebuilt at the end of the century . During the 9th century the Normans raided the area and the abbey got devastated again. Local nobility supported the rebuilding of the abbey by donations and privileges.

The abbey church was built in eleventh/twelfth century. Here is the center of the facade, a fine example of the specific Romanesque style, typical for the Saintonge.

The church got renovated and rebuilt during the 19th century by Paul Abadie, later known as the architect of "Sacré-Coeur de Montmartre" and strongly influenced by Viollet-le-Duc. His works (eg Saint-Front, Périgueux, St. Pierre, Angoulême, Saint-Etienne, Cahors) are disputed today, as he "re-created" structures.

In 1745 Dom Bédos (aka "François Lamathe Bédos de Celles de Salelles") joined the Benedictian congregation of Sainte-Croix. He is known for being a master pipe organ builder. He built an organ for this church in 1748, that in 1811 later was moved to the Cathedral. The organ was returned to Sainte-Croix in the 1970s and restored.

In July and August, there are free concerts here every Wednesday at 18h30.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-zfOJciZDE