Sainte-Croix d'Oloron Church, Oloron-Sainte-Marie, France

The Sainte-Croix church of Oloron-Sainte-Marie was built from 1080, at the same time as the city of Sainte-Croix was established. Served by canons of the Augustinian order, the church was a parish until the 14th century. It was transformed for a time into a Protestant temple from 1569 to 1621.

Architecturally, the plan is made up of a nave and two side aisles ending in a choir extended by a cul-de-four apse. The north portal is from the Romanesque period, and is decorated with carved capitals. On the other hand, the side portal built in the 19th century was removed in the 20th century to restore the church to its original appearance.

One of the distinctive features of the church is its ribbed dome of Byzantine and Mozarabic inspiration which covers the crossing of the transept. Inside, barrel or semi-barrel vaults are also typical of Romanesque art, like the many capitals with plant motifs or evoking biblical themes.

In the 19th century, large frescoes representing the 'Passion of Christ' and the 'Last Judgment' were painted, particularly in the choir. There is also a pulpit and stalls from the beginning of the 18th century as well as the altar and its altarpiece in the Spanish Baroque style, dating from the same period (1708).

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France Voyage

User Reviews

Jaume Santaularia i Mestres (11 months ago)
Spectacular Romanesque, portico that will make us enjoy its beauty.

Jean Pierre Villaume (13 months ago)
Very beautiful building which exudes a beautiful spirituality. Strong capitals; unfortunately lit in a flashy way which looks good from a distance but prevents them from being understood up close. Visit recommended. The recorded commentary will be appreciated or not, depending on what we are doing in a church

Lola Valderrama (13 months ago)
Beautiful and essential Romanesque in Oloron. It is open, one of the 4 wonderful caliphal domes. Recommends it for all types of art fans.

Alberto Andres Rubio (2 years ago)
Built in what is today the old town of Oloron. The nave is made up of a nave and two side aisles that end in a choir extended by a dead-end apse. The north portal is from the Romanesque period and adorned with carved capitals. Its most distinctive feature is its snowy dome of Byzantine and Mozarabic inspiration that covers the crossing of the transept. In the 19th century, large frescoes depicting the "Passion of Christ" and the "Last Judgment" were painted.

gerard claude (3 years ago)
A place of spirituality and a welcoming place for our Mendiz Mendi choir, who will sing there a sacred and profane a cappella repertoire, Basque and from around the world, Saturday December 10 at 8:30 p.m.

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Visby Cathedral (also known as St. Mary’s Church) is the only survived medieval church in Visby. It was originally built for German merchants and inaugurated in 1225. Around the year 1350 the church was enlarged and converted into a basilica. The two-storey magazine was also added then above the nave as a warehouse for merchants.

Following the Reformation, the church was transformed into a parish church for the town of Visby. All other churches were abandoned. Shortly after the Reformation, in 1572, Gotland was made into its own Diocese, and the church designated its cathedral.

There is not much left of the original interior. The font is made of local red marble in the 13th century. The pulpit was made in Lübeck in 1684. There are 400 graves under the church floor.

Sainte-Croix d'Oloron Church

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