Abbatiale Sainte-Marie de Souillac

A masterpiece of Romano-Byzantine architecture, the Abbatiale Sainte-Marie de Souillac was integral to the development of the town that grew up around it.

Site History

Since Roman times, Souillac has been a crossroads for trade, first by rivers and roads and now by rail and air, as well as a major pilgrimage route. Today, the small city is a shadow of its prestigious past. While its economy has declined, Souillac remains the guardian of its major treasure, the medieval Abbey Church of Sainte-Marie. The church dates back to the 10th century, when Benedictine monks from Aurillac founded a monastery on the site. Not far from the religious center of Rocamadour and on the way to Santiago de Compostela, the monastery rapidly extended its influence over the region and contributed to the development of Souillac into a town. In the 12th century, the monastic community built the church that still stands today. Its Romano-Byzantine style was inspired by the architecture of the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. 

A 1,000-year-old architectural jewel, the Abbatiale Sainte-Marie has withstood the ravages of the Hundred Years’ War, the Wars of Religion and the French Revolution. After the Revolution, it served as a tobacco factory until the mid-20th century. Registered as a historic monument since 1840, it features several architectural masterpieces, including the inner portal with its elaborate pillar, the Moorish entrance, the tower porch, 12th-century paintings and a Stoltz organ. The entrance was installed in the 17th century, when the abbey was under the control of the Maurists.

About the Project

The Abbatiale Sainte-Marie underwent restoration campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and its original stone roofs have been recovered. To establish current restoration priorities and needs, the Direction régionale des affaires culturelles requested a diagnostic study, which was completed in 2019 by the architects Bossoutrot & Rebière. The forecasted restoration work will take place in phases, for a total of €2.6 million pretax. The project includes the restoration of the Maurist portal, which has a leaking roof and suffers from water infiltration from the walls; if not restored, it may collapse. The project will also renovate the lighting and bring the electrical work up to standard. The restoration is jointly undertaken by the municipality and the Association des amis d’Alain Chastagnol pour la sauvegarde de l’Abbatiale Sainte-Marie de Souillac.

The Abbatiale Sainte-Marie de Souillac Today

Every July, the town of Souillac comes alive for a celebration of jazz, including intimate outdoor concerts performed in front of the abbey, which is lit up beautifully at night. The fantastic acoustics and program of leading international jazz artists make this an event not to be missed. On completion of the renovation, the town has plans to use the abbey as a cultural and tourist attraction and to create a hotel and a restaurant on its premises.