Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres Basilica

Notre-Dame-de-la-Fin-des-Terres Basilica, a UNESCO world heritage site since 1998 as part of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela. Tradition goes back to the legend of St. Veronica, the origin of this church. In the first century of our era, after the death of the Virgin, Saint Veronica, Saint Amadour and Saint Martial from Palestine, landed in Soulac. Veronique then raised a modest oratory to the memory of the Virgin, after evangelizing the Medoc and the Bazadais. She died in Soulac and was buried in the year 70.

It was probably in the 11th century, when the pilgrims of Saint-Jacques from the English lands landed in Soulac, that was built this Benedictine abbey, classified Historic Monument. The construction of the Romanesque church did not end before the beginning of the 12th century. In the 18th century, dune erosion caused the quasi-total silting up of the church, which was not cleared until the middle of the 19th century.

References:

• medoc-atlantique.co.uk

Address

Rue de la Plage 117, Soulac-sur-Mer, France

Details

Founded: 11th century
Category: Religious sites in France
Historical period: Birth of Capetian dynasty (France)