Sainte-Croix can be explored through a range of cultural and landscape themes: the architectural history of its church, priory and château, as well as the landscape perspective of the Boucle des Moulins. When placing its history in context, it is worth assigning each date to the correct building or subject. There is also a clear limitation to bear in mind when planning your visit: the Château de Sainte-Croix is privately owned and cannot be visited.
Romanesque sculpture at the Eglise Sainte-Croix
The Eglise Sainte-Croix was built in the 12th century. Romanesque sculpture has been preserved inside, including a figurative capital depicting Adam and Eve. The church’s bell-gable is another architectural feature. The date of construction, sculpture and tower provide three specific points of reference for its cultural context: the century in which the building was constructed, a particular image motif and a distinctive tower form. The figurative capital makes the sculpture more specific than a general description of Romanesque art. Anyone interested in medieval architecture can consider the Eglise Sainte-Croix’s architecture and preserved sculpture as closely connected subjects.
The Prieuré and medieval architectural history
The timeline for the Prieuré de Sainte-Croix-de-Beaumont is later. It was built between 1303 and 1323 by a papal chaplain who was the first prior of Saint-Avit-Senieur. This links the period in which it was built to the specific role of its builder. The Prieuré represents an important milestone in medieval civil architecture in Aquitaine. The difference between it and the Eglise Sainte-Croix helps put them in context: the church was built in the 12th century, while the priory dates to the first decades of the 14th century. This makes it possible to distinguish between two different medieval building phases.
The fief and present-day house of the Château
The history of the Château de Sainte-Croix also requires a clear distinction between dates. Its fief is mentioned as early as 1286; the present-day house dates from the late 18th century and was completed under the Empire. The year 1286 therefore refers to the mention of the fief, not to the construction of the present-day house. This distinction helps keep the historical reference to the fief separate from the later building history of the house. The château cannot be visited, so do not plan to tour its interior. If you are considering a stay in the surrounding area, check locally in advance whether this is possible.
Landscape and travel interests
The Boucle des Moulins offers varied landscapes and preserved nature. Its character provides a different focus from the buildings that can be dated: here, landscape and nature take centre stage, while there, the focus is on the historical and architectural context of individual buildings. When planning your trip, you can weigh these different themes against one another without combining them into a single sightseeing destination.
Tailor your search to what interests you most about Sainte-Croix.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Germain-Du-Salembre, Piégut-Pluviers, Clermont-D'excideuil, Saint-Léon-Sur-L'isle, Alles-Sur-Dordogne, Jaure, Nabirat, Saint-Martin-Des-Combes.
Return to the main travel overview: Dordogne.
