Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Saturnin church of Baurech, located in Gironde, is a religious building whose origins date back to the 12th century, although it rests on Gallo-Roman remains. The present building has been profoundly transformed at the edge of the 15th and 16th centuries, notably by the addition of two lowsides and the modification of the bedside, which preserves a Romanesque frame. Some roman capitals remain inside, illustrating patterns such as birds pinging a pine apple or interlacing.

The quadrilateral bell tower, begun in 1506, underwent several reconstructions: in 1612-1613 after damage, then restored in 1871. It peaks at 35 meters (19 m for the tower, 16 m for the octagonal pyramid) and carries commemorative inscriptions, one of which dates from 1506 evoking its launch by Heliot France, master of work. The basket handle door, surmounted by a tympanum with the effigy of Saint Saturnin, and an almost intact 15th century structure complete this heritage.

In the 19th century, the Bordeaux architect Jean-Jules Mondet made major changes, such as the lengthening of the south side and the vaulting of the nave. This work, combined with restorations in 1841 and 1871, shaped the present appearance of the church. Ranked a Historical Monument in 2003, it combines Romanesque, Gothic and modern elements, testifying to almost nine centuries of architectural and religious history.

The size of the church (30 m long, 18 m wide) and its 7 m semicircular apse, pierced by Gothic bays, underline its importance in the girondin heritage landscape. The inscriptions on the bell tower, such as that of 1672 relating the repair of the pyramid after a storm, or that of 1613 citing workers Noël Faure and Jean Mouleyre, offer an overview of successive interventions.

The sacristy, adjacent to the southern collateral, dates back to the restoration of 1871. The ensemble, owned by the municipality of Baurech, embodies both an active place of worship and an architectural palimpsest, where each era left its mark, from Gallo-Roman foundations to 19th century transformations.

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