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History Visit Routes of Santiago de Compostela Information History Visit Routes of Santiago de Compostela Information History Visit Routes of Santiago de Compostela Information ▲ ▲ ▲ English The routes of Santiago de Compostela Glossary La Sauve-Majeure An ideal stopover in the midst Apse: semi-circular end of the church. of abbey life Consecration medallions: depictions of the Abbey apostles placed inside the church during the The pilgrimage to Santiago was one of the three ceremony preceding its opening (1231). main Christian pilgrimages undertaken during Half-domed: semi-circular vault. At the heart of Romanesque Art the Middle Ages, along with those of Rome and In commendam: when the management of an abbey Jerusalem. is handed over to an ecclesiastic or layman. Powerful and independent The success of the abbey’s establishment was primary teacher training college: built at linked to this huge religious undertaking. Before the end of the 19th century on the spot where In 1079, a Benedictine abbot, the future Saint crossing the inhospitable Landes region of the monastic buildings stood and destroyed Gérard de Corbie, founded Notre-Dame-de-la- , this stopping point was a godsend for by fire in 1910. Sauve-Majeure in the vast Entre-Deux-Mers God’s walkers, where they could find care, food Maurists: members of the Benedictine forest between the Garonne and Dordogne and rest in the infirmary and hospice. Pierced Congregation of Saint-Maur, founded in Paris rivers, an undertaking helped by support from shells found in a sarcophagus cleared in the in 1618 and dissolved during the Revolution. the Dukes of Aquitaine and the nearby Santiago north chapel in 1960 indicate that others Modillion: bracket used in series under a cornice. de Compostela pilgrim route. In the 12th century, chose La Sauve as the final point in their Monasticon Gallicanum: a collection of engraved the Abbey stood at the head of 70 priories earthly journey. plates depicting cavalier perspectives (oblique stretching from England to Aragon. At that aerial views) of the abbeys of the Congregation time, within the sauveté*, it harboured an

A minor route of Saint-Maur. pour plaire. Tout important monastic town. Sauveté: area free from any secular jurisdiction. 2016. Stipa,

The network of Compostela routes is far denser illustration Decline and renewal than the four main routes recorded in the 12th Practical information impression century in “The Santiago de Compostela La Sauve’s future was jeopardised by the Pilgrim’s Guide” might Average length of visit: 1 hour upheavals following the Hundred Years’ War, have us assume. Once Visits adapted to disabled visitors. ADT International. then at the end of the 15th century, when it was they reached La Sauve, given in commendam*. the pilgrims walked on traduction In 1660, although the Centre des monuments nationaux, Paris. nationaux, des monuments Centre The abbey, Gift and book shop

to to cross beau fixe. monastery was in a from the The guide for this monument can be found in the Itinéraires collection Langoiran the River Garonne at and is available in the gift and book shop. neglected state, the road. Le Tourne and joined réalisation Maurists* revived its Centre des monuments nationaux the road from Tours to Belin-Beliet. On their Abbaye de La Sauve-Majeure The Abbey monastic life. After way back, some expressed their gratitude by 33670 La Sauve-Majeure in 1679. the Revolution, the tél. 05 56 23 01 55

making donations and bequests. fax 05 56 23 38 59 Anders. Plein Sens, buildings were used as a stone quarry and the church was little more than a grandiose ruin. MAP, Archives photographiques P. Berthé © P. photographiques Archives MAP, www.monuments-nationaux.fr Listed as a historic monument in 1840 and acquired by the State in 1960, the Abbey was crédits photos conception graphique conception graphique listed in 1998 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site under the Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France.

*Explanations overleaf. abbaye de la sauve-majeure EN.qxp_majeure 29/10/2015 10:43 Page4

History Visit Routes of Santiago de Compostela Information ▲

The abbey church F G Built in the shape of a Latin Cross, the abbey I C church consists of a five-bay nave flanked by side H D aisles, a transept opening on to the chancel and B 2 ever smaller lateral chapels. Few parts remain of E 1 the church’s portal, whose main lines are known thanks to the oblique aerial view of the abbey in A 3 the Monasticon Gallicanum*. A The nave starts at once on the reverse side of the 1 reception-gift and book shop façade. In the first bay, a well and a niche form an 2 Musée Lapidaire (Stone museum) enigmatic liturgical arrangement. In the 17th cen- 3 Maison des vins de l’Entre-Deux- tury, two huge stonework blocks outlining a kind Mers (House displaying the history of the vineyard and wine growing) of oval tambour were built to hold an organ gallery. Set in the wall, six consecration medallions* The sculpted decor The monastic buildings depicting the apostles can be seen. The partially ruined nave had a ribbed vault. B to E On the capitals, biblical depictions are shown next G The chapter house was where the monks The south side aisle, on the right as you come in, to monsters from the Far East and the depths assembled under the authority of the abbot to bears witness to several building campaigns. The of time. Among the story-telling scenes, we can listen to the reading of a chapter of the rule Gothic cross-ribbed vaults of the second and third make out “The Original Sin”, “Daniel in the (capitulum), whence its name. Here, they would bays date back to the 13th century, as does the Lion’s Den”, “The Temptation of Christ”, hold discussions, make important decisions and octagonal bell tower, with its large twin bays on “The Life of Samson” and “The Decapitation confess their faults. All that remains of it today is the second floor. The fifth bay has a 12th-century of John the Baptist”. The sculptors have created an area outlined by low pillars and modern tiling. coated groin vault in the Romanesque style. a mythical bestiary world to depict vices. Asps, H The cloister, an enclosure separating monks from The chevet, dating back to the very early 12th basilisks, centaurs and griffins confront one another. laymen, was closed off by four covered galleries century, is the oldest and most complete part of There are also numerous capitals with plant decor surrounding a garden, a place of prayer and the church. It includes the chancel and adjoining (acanthus, fern and pine). The so-called “Vine” meditation. chapels which still have their rounded arch barrel capital, symbol of the resurrection and life, is set The scriptorium was the continuation of the vaults. The chancel, lit by three large windows opposite the capital with the fabulous combats. chapter house, and was reserved for monks who and topped by a half-domed vault* used to house This split between the left and right of the chancel copied out and illuminated texts. The dormitory the “most sacred sacrament”, the crafted bronze illustrates the contrast between good and evil. was on the upper floor. Few vestiges remain. tomb of the founding saint and other precious F Outside the chevet, the apse* is a harmonious I Of the refectory, a place for equal and fraternal relics for the faithful to revere. blend of windows and small blind arcades decora- relations between all monks, only one wall, with ted with delicately sculpted capitals. Four-legged 13th century Gothic windows, remains. It was beasts, beard- and hair-pullers, bird-women, etc. rediscovered in 1963 when the ruins of the can be seen. Running throughout is a cornice with Gironde primary teachers’ training college* sculpted modillions*, some of which are exhibited were cleared. in The Cloisters Museum, New York.

*Explanations overleaf.