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Origin and history

The Church of Notre-Dame de Créon is a Catholic church located in the commune of Creon, Gironde, in the heart of the Entre-deux-Mers natural region. Founded at the end of the 13th century when the bastide was created, the current building was rebuilt between the end of the 15th century and the second quarter of the 16th century. It is distinguished by its unique dogive vaulted nave, flanked by two side chapels, and its 16th century pentagonal apse, illuminated by flamboyant-style windows. The west gate, dated 1490, and the abside, signed in 1538 by master mason Marsault Roux, testify to this period of construction.

The bell tower, erected in the seventeenth century, replaces an ancient bell tower and is characterized by its massive tower surmounted by a bell tower decorated with a leopard. It houses a 16th-century accolade portal and a statue of Virgin and Child in limestone, probably from the nearby Abbey of La Sauve-Major. The church underwent restorations in the 19th century and retains remarkable furniture, including a 17th-century Spanish wooden christ, 18th-century stalls, and Baroque elements such as an angel and an ambon.

Ranked as Historic Monuments in 2002, the church illustrates the architectural and religious evolution of the Créon bastide. Its central location, near the Place de la Prévoté, highlights its historic role in community life. The successive modifications, from the 16th and 17th centuries to modern restorations, reflect its adaptation to liturgical and aesthetic needs throughout the eras.

Interior furniture, including 17th and 18th century rooms, enriches its heritage. The 13th century Virgin with the Child, perhaps transferred from the Abbey of La Sauve, adds an additional historical dimension. The building, owned by the commune, remains a major testimony of girondin religious architecture, mixing flamboyant Gothic and Baroque styles.

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