Eglise Saint-Projet
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Projet, located in Bordeaux (Gironde), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- Church
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Bordeaux, Gironde, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 44.8384, -0.5744
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083176
Discreet but precious, Saint-Projet church stands in the heart of Bordeaux, its 14th-century medieval tower topped by a Baroque door from the Grand Siècle - a dialogue of stone between Gothic and Classicism.
History
In the heart of old Bordeaux, wedged between the narrow streets of the old town and the gilded facades of the Gironde metropolis, the church of Saint-Projet is one of those buildings that you discover almost by accident and never forget. Far from the magnificence of Saint-André cathedral or the majesty of Saint-Michel, it embodies the discreet charm of medieval neighbourhood churches that have survived the centuries by adapting without denying themselves. What makes Saint-Projet particularly endearing is precisely this superimposition of historical layers that can be read with the naked eye. Attentive visitors will immediately notice the welcome contradiction between the elegant 17th-century entrance door, with its flat pilasters in the pure classical tradition, and the medieval tower above it, with its five storeys punctuated by projecting stringcourses and pointed-arched windows. This dialogue between late Gothic and Bordeaux Baroque is the visual signature of the building. The tower is the real jewel of Saint-Projet. Its five storeys, regularly punctuated by horizontal bands, reveal a careful and well thought-out construction, typical of Bordeaux religious architecture of the late Middle Ages. On the fourth floor, a rare three-lobed double window catches the eye: this motif, inherited from the flamboyant Gothic style, contrasts with the austerity of the rest of the tower and betrays the particular care taken with this floor, which was perhaps intended to house a bell or a performance space. The church is part of an area of Bordeaux still rich in medieval features, where courtyards, alleyways and weathered facades create an authentic setting. A visit to Saint-Projet is also a chance to soak up the atmosphere of an ancient city that the Haussmann-style highways have largely erased. An ideal stop-off for architecture buffs and curious walkers in search of a less photogenic, but much more intimate Bordeaux.
Architecture
Saint-Projet church is a striking example of the stylistic superimposition that characterises many town-centre religious buildings that have survived several centuries without being completely rebuilt. The main façade, facing the street, features a 17th-century entrance door with flat pilasters, a sober, classical treatment that contrasts with the Gothic verticality of the tower that dominates it. This Baroque porch, with its measured proportions and strong horizontal line, acts as a time-lock between the contemporary street and the medieval space. The tower is the most architecturally significant element of the building. Divided into five storeys clearly separated by projecting stringcourses - a common technique in southern Gothic architecture to punctuate the elevation without overloading it - it rises with a sobriety that is typical of the Aquitaine region. Each level has a pointed arch window, adding light and rhythm to the vertical composition. The fourth floor is distinguished by a triple-lobed twin window, a flamboyant Gothic motif that betrays a more meticulous and decorative treatment at this symbolic height. The crown of the tower, obviously of more recent construction, suggests partial reconstruction after damage, perhaps following the Wars of Religion that ravaged Bordeaux in the 16th century. The materials used are traditional to medieval Bordeaux architecture: local limestone ashlar, with its fine grain and characteristic golden hue, gives the building its luminous patina. The interior, which probably has a simple plan with a single nave or three narrow aisles, in keeping with the tradition of Gothic parish churches of this scale, was designed to accommodate the inhabitants of a dense, working-class district of the medieval town.
Related Figures
Saint Projectus (Projectus de Clermont) — évêque martyr du VIIe siècle, saint patron de l'égliseAliénor d'Aquitaine — duchesse dont le règne ouvre la prospérité bordelaise médiévale ayant permis la construction de l'édificeHenri Plantagenêt (Henri II d'Angleterre) — sous la domination de la couronne anglaise que Bordeaux et ses édifices gothiques se développentLes maîtres maçons bordelais du XIVe siècle — artisans anonymes à l'origine de la tour et de ses détails gothiquesLes intendants royaux du XVIIe siècle — dont l'action urbanistique accompagne la transformation classique de la porte d'entrée
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Projet located?
Eglise Saint-Projet is located in Bordeaux, Gironde department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Projet built?
Eglise Saint-Projet dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Projet open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Projet is currently closed to visitors.