History of La Sauve-Majeure Abbey

Situated in a natural setting between the Garonne and Dordogne rivers, in the Entre-Deux-Mers region, the abbey takes its name from the large forest, or Silva Major, that characterised the environment when it was founded.

A major Romanesque heritage site, La Sauve-Majeure boasts remarkable sculptures and capitals set in a timeless landscape. Its sculpted decorations, veritable comic strips of the Middle Ages, tell stories peopled with evil or fabulous animals, heroes and tales that instructed the faithful in the Middle Ages - and that still charm us today.

Its open-air site is included on UNESCO's list of World Heritage Sites as part of France's Pilgrimage Route to Santiago de Compostela.

The abbey prospered rapidly in the Middle Ages, thanks in particular to the privilege of "sauveté" granted to the Benedictine monks by the Dukes of Aquitaine, which gave the abbey spiritual power as well as temporal, economic and political power. La Sauve-Majeure is one of the finest examples of Romanesque architecture and sculpture in the south-west of France, and it's inside that the most important part of the church is hidden... its historiated decoration.

From the twelfth to the thirteenth centuries, La Sauve-Majeure was a rich stopover which, in addition to the abbey itself, where around a hundred monks worked, soon extended its dependencies and possessions throughout Aquitaine and beyond, in France and Europe. With the end of the Hundred Years' War and the modern era, however, the abbey found itself weakened.

After the Revolution, it was even used as a prison and, above all, as a stone quarry. Fortunately, it was listed as a historic monument in 1840, on the first list of listed monuments in France (at the request of Mérimée). The Gironde's first teacher training college, which later moved here, burnt down in 1910, but the charm of this "romantic ruin", with its beautiful stonework and enchanting natural surroundings, has not waned since.

The abbey presents a majestic ensemble around the remains of the church - starting with the iconic vault of its choir. The finesse of the Romanesque sculpture magnifies its chevet. Its bell tower stands out as the "lighthouse" of the Entre-deux-Mers region, at the summit of the undulating landscapes of this beautiful region of the Bordeaux hinterland. The abbey's cloister, followed by its extensive grounds, provide an enchanting setting, a haven of peace where you can finally take your time before visiting the lapidary museum (not forgetting the neighbouring wine house, in the former abbey barn, and its medieval garden).

Listed as a historic monument since 1840, the abbey is now part of the Centre des monuments nationaux network, along with the Château ducal in Cadillac-sur-Garonne and Tour Pey-Berland in Bordeaux.

The abbey invites you to take a break, to daydream, stroll and discover. Take the time to enjoy this magnificent and magical site all year round, or come back for a varied cultural and family programme, or to learn or, quite simply, to share this beautiful setting in all seasons.