Eglise Saint-Sour
ChurchHidden Treasure
Eglise Saint-Sour, located in Terrasson-Lavilledieu (Dordogne), 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
- Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne, Nouvelle-Aquitaine
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 45.1270, 1.3055
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00083011
Flamboyant Gothic jewel of the Périgord, the église Saint-Sour de Terrasson-Lavilledieu preserves the splendour of a Benedictine abbey built at the close of the 15th century, featuring medieval recumbent effigies and Romanesque capitals that survived the Wars of Religion.
History
Standing in the heart of Terrasson-Lavilledieu, on the banks of the Vézère river, the church of Saint-Sour is the silent heir to a Benedictine abbey that dates back to the earliest days of Christianity in Périgord. Its flamboyant Gothic elevation, typical of southern building sites in the late Middle Ages, contrasts with the severity of the wooded hills that surround the town, offering a stone lacework of rare elegance. What distinguishes Saint-Sour from many contemporary buildings is the visible stratification of its successive ages. Here, a Romanesque capital with tracery evokes the primitive Carolingian community; there, a sculpted recumbent recalls that abbots and notables from the Périgord Noir came to seek eternal rest within these walls. This palimpsest of stone offers the attentive visitor a lesson in architectural history in miniature, without ever sacrificing the aesthetic coherence of the Gothic ensemble. The visit is an intimate and contemplative experience. The interior, sober in its polychromy, leaves plenty of room for the play of light filtered through the chevet windows. The bas-reliefs that have been preserved and the lapidary remains that have been placed in storage bear witness to the care that has been taken to showcase our heritage. The restoration work carried out in the 19th century, completed in 1889, restored the legibility of the nave without overwhelming the patina that had accumulated over the centuries. Terrasson-Lavilledieu's urban setting is also worth a visit: dominated by its church, the old medieval town is terraced towards the Vézère, offering picturesque views over the Périgord countryside. The Jardins de l'Imaginaire, just a stone's throw away, are the perfect complement to a day devoted to the local heritage. Saint-Sour is a must for anyone exploring the Périgueux-Sarlat-Brive golden triangle.
Architecture
The church of Saint-Sour is part of the southern flamboyant Gothic style that developed in south-western France between the late 15th and early 16th centuries. The floor plan, probably with a single nave or less-developed side aisles, as was customary in Périgord Benedictine abbeys of the period, is orientated east-west with a polygonal apse. The interior elevations reveal pointed-arch arches topped by carefully-crafted cross-ribbed networks, testifying to the skills of local stonemasons trained in the flamboyant models that had spread from the great building sites of the Loire Valley and Languedoc. On the outside, the west facade and side walls retain traces of the original layout, with projecting buttresses and flamboyantly infilled bays, some of which were altered during the 19th-century restoration work. The portals, although partially rebuilt, still feature almond-shaped mouldings and archivolts characteristic of late Gothic vocabulary. The blonde Périgord limestone used throughout the construction gives the building the warm hue common to monuments in the region. The heritage interest of Saint-Sour is enhanced by the presence of Romanesque stone remains - capitals with stylised foliage and figured modillions - probably from an earlier building on the same site. A medieval recumbent and sculpted bas-reliefs complete the funerary and devotional furnishings preserved, making the church a veritable open-air lapidary museum, where each stone tells a different chapter in the history of the Périgord Noir.
Related Figures
Bertrand de Rouffignac — abbé (1491-1505), initiateur de la reconstruction gothique flamboyanteBertrand de la Faye — abbé (1520-1540), maître d'ouvrage de l'achèvement de l'égliseSaint Sorus (saint Sourd) — évangélisateur légendaire du Périgord, patron de l'abbaye et de la villeAnonymes huguenots — troupes responsables de l'incendie dévastateur de 1569 lors des guerres de Religion
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Eglise Saint-Sour located?
Eglise Saint-Sour is located in Terrasson-Lavilledieu, Dordogne department, Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, France.
When was Eglise Saint-Sour built?
Eglise Saint-Sour dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Eglise Saint-Sour open to visitors?
Eglise Saint-Sour is currently closed to visitors.
