ABBEY CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE AND SAINT-PAUL
One of Limousin's oldest and most remarkable churches
One of the oldest and most remarkable churches in the Limousin, a jewel of Romanesque art. Solignac Abbey was founded in the 7th century by St. Éloi, the future bishop of Noyon, who asked King Dagobert I for the village of Solemniacum - the land of Solignac - to found a monastery. All that remains today is the church, most of which was built in the second quarter of the 12th century. But what a church! A majestic edifice that greets you as you enter the village of Solignac, with its impressive dimensions - 70 metres long - and its magnificent apse. Destroyed several times, it was restored to its original condition in the 17th and 18th centuries, and from the time of the French Revolution onwards went through a tumultuous history, becoming in turn a prison, a boarding school, a porcelain factory, a retreat and even a refuge after the Second World War.
The Abbey Church of Saint-Pierre et Saint-Paul features a single nave about 15 meters wide, domes on pendentives, numerous carved capitals and 56 stalls with a wide variety of carved subjects. Other highlights include the 15th-century mural of St. Christopher, the copper reliquary arm of St. Eloi and the bust of St. Théau.
Since 2021, the Prieuré Saint-Joseph de l'abbaye de Solignac has welcomed Benedictine monks from the Saint Joseph de Clairval abbey (Dijon) to found a new community.
A splendid, soothing setting for a timeless moment.
Did you know? This review was written by our professional authors.
Book the Best Activities with Get Your Guide
Members' reviews on ABBEY CHURCH OF SAINT-PIERRE AND SAINT-PAUL
Find unique Stay Offers with our Partners
