Souillac - Sainte-Marie

Souillac is a town, that I cannot pass, without stopping and visiting the former abbey church. Legends tell, that the abbey was founded by Saint Eligius (Saint Eloi), advisor of Merovingian King Dagobert I. The abbey got destroyed by the Saracens, and Charlemagne commissioned the reconstruction, which again was ruined got by Norman invaders. Of course, it got looted during the Wars of Religions but existed up to the French Revolution.

The abbey church, today serving the parish, got built on the blueprint of a Latin Cross in the 12th century. The single nave is about 15 ms wide. Above are no vaults, but three domes.

Inside this fantastic church are two Romanesque works of art, that are breathtaking.

But - the church was locked.