The abbey of Sauve-Majeure
- Monument
The abbey of Sauve-Majeure stands in the middle of the Bordeaux wine-growing region called l’Entre-deux-Mers at a place which used to be called “Silva Major” (large forest). This Benedictine abbey was founded in 1079 and was rebuilt in the 13th century. It was a pilgrimage church on the road to Compostela and was very prosperous until the Renaissance.
The building had a Benedictine Latin cross plan, with the transept opening onto apses that progressively decreased in size. It now has lost most of its vaulting and all that has survived are the ruins of the walls of the nave, transept and choir. These are dominated by the tall octagonal bell-tower with large twin bays which rises over the south aisle.
The main interest of these ruins lies in the exceptional Romanesque capitals.
Practical information
Main entrance to the Abbaye de la Sauve-Majeure
33670 La Sauve-Majeure
Going there
From Bordeaux: secondary roads D936 to Bergerac and D671 to Sauveterre-de-Guyenne
Localisation
6 km south of the main road between Bordeaux and Bergerac
29 km southeast of Bordeaux