Abbaye de la Sauve-Majeure

The Abbaye de la Sauve Majeure was built in 1079 by St. Gerard and the Duke of Aquitaine, on the very site where there was a large forest that was cleared for the construction of the monument. It is this element which gave its name to the Abbey "Sauve" as a term for the wood.

The Abbey had in history a great reputation and becomes a very important religious and cultural place. It was started as a symbolic pilgrimage to Compostela. The monks residing in this building had a rich and prosperous life, often resulting in attacks and looting.

Having suffered several damages due to natural disasters, the abbey began to decline. After the revolution, the village of Sauve use material from this monument to rebuild other buildings.

The building came in 1998 as a World Heritage of Humanity. Despite the different damage that the Abbey has undergone, it remains an impressive monument, built by its imposing Roman style