Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The church of Sainte-Radegonde, located in the village of Sainte-Radegonde in Gironde, is a Romanesque building of the 11th and 12th centuries. Unlike the traditional east-west oriented churches, the church has a south-east/north-west orientation. It preserves remains of a 11th century pre-Roman building, while its northwest façade, bedside and carved capitals date back to the 12th century. The tympanum of the portal, remarkable, represents Adam and Eve near the tree of Knowledge, as well as the apostles James, Paul and Peter as pilgrims, accompanied by two other pilgrims.

Inside, the glazed nave reveals the beginnings of dogive vaults, suggesting an unfinished Gothic vaulting project. The lower side, added at the end of the Gothic period, was transformed into a home. The church was the subject of successive protections: partial inscription in 1925, then full classification in 2002, including the facades and roofs of the lower side. These protections underline its heritage importance, both for its Romanesque architecture and for its carved elements.

The building is also distinguished by its bell tower-wall, whose Romanesque capitals have not undergone any subsequent modifications. His history was marked by a mention as early as 1215, confirming his seniority. Today, the church remains a major architectural testimony of the New Aquitaine region, combining medieval heritage and subsequent transformations. His tympanum, in particular, illustrates biblical and pilgrim scenes, reflecting the religious and cultural importance of the place in the Middle Ages.

External links