A Treasure Trove of Medieval Architecture
L’Abbaye Sainte-Croix, situated at the centre of Quimperlé in Brittany, is a true masterpiece of medieval architecture. Built in the XIth century, this bénédictine abbey bears witness to the ingenuity of the builders of the time. Its Romanesque architecture, characterised by a circular plan inspired by the Saint-Sépulcre church in Jérusalem, is unique in its genre.
A Millenary History
The history of the Abbaye Sainte-Croix dates back almost a thousand years. Founded in the XIth century, it has traversed the centuries, bearing witness to the vicissitudes of history and the résilience of faith. Détruite puis reconstruite à plusieurs reprises, elle incarne la persévérance des moines et leur dévouement à Dieu.
An imposing architecture
The abbey is characterised by its imposing and majestic architecture. Its rotonde, reconstructed by Joseph Bigot, preserves the dimensions of the original Romanesque edifice. With its conical tower and massive buttresses, it impresses with its grandeur and solidity. Inside, visitors can admire the finely sculpted chapiters and the polished columns that adorn the central nave.
The Artistic Treasures of the Church
The interior of the church is home to a number of artistic treasures. Le maître-autel, offered by l’impératrice Eugénie in the XIXth century, is a remarkable work of néo-roman style. The grand retable de pierre, sculpted during the Renaissance, evokes the biblical scenes with exceptional finesse. The statues, tableaux and sculptures that decorate the church invite visitors on a journey through the history of sacred art.
The Claustraux buildings
In addition to the church, the abbey also boasts some remarkable cloister buildings. Its cloister, made up of four galeries voûtées, offers a cosy setting in which to admire the medieval architecture. The adjoining conventual buildings bear witness to the daily life of the Moines and their communal organisation.
The Abbots’ Tombs
The tombs of the abbés, adorned with gisants and sculptures, tell the story of the men who ran the abbey over the centuries. The tomb of Saint Gurloës, at the centre of the crypt, is particularly remarkable for its unique architecture and the numerous graffiti that bear witness to the devotion of the friars. The tomb of Abbot Henry de Lespervez, for example, honours the memory of a man of faith in all its sculptural splendour.
The Sacristy and its exceptional furniture
The sacristy of the abbey, decorated with lambrequins and furniture of great elegance, offers a precious testimony to the artisanship that flourished in the XVIIIth century. The buffets, the armoires d’angle and the stalles sculptées evoke the refinement of the monastic interiors, where every detail was designed to honour the liturgy and the prière.
A place of spirituality and history
Visiting the Abbaye Sainte-Croix in Quimperlé, travellers plunge into a universe of spirituality and history. This emblematic place in Brittany invites everyone to discover the riches of a unique heritage, where sacred art and medieval architecture come together to offer a unique experience.
