Soulac’s basilica, Notre Dame de la fin des terres, is a rarity of its kind, having been completely silted up in the 18th century. It has the particularity of having lost its bell tower, which could not be restored, but it remains a beautiful 12th-century building. Only 9 kilometers from Euronat, this visit is well worth the detour.
The basilica was buried in sand in the 18th century and rediscovered in the 19th.
The basilica of Notre Dame de la fin des terres is located in Soulac. It owes its name to its proximity to the tip of the Médoc. It was listed as a historic monument on July 20, 1891, just after its restoration. It is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela.
Soulac and Grayan, stopovers for pilgrims
Behind the church is an ancient monastery, and in Grayan and l’Hôpital is a chapel that once adjoined a hospital. The hospital gave its name to the village. All these buildings bear witness to a time when pilgrims flocked to our coast. They came from Great Britain and northern Europe. They followed the coastal route to Santiago de Compostela. Euronat perpetuates this history, becoming a stopover for today’s pilgrims in 2012.
The Romanesque basilica dates back to the mid-12th century, when it housed relics of St. Veronica and the Virgin Mary, which pilgrims visited during their stopover.
Sand invasion
In 1741, sand began to cover the village of Soulac. The entire Soulac population had to move a few kilometers away, creating a new village: young Soulac. The inexorable burial of the basilica began. A few decades later, only the top of the bell tower emerged from the dune, serving as a navigational landmark for sailors.
Restoration of the church did not begin until 1859, at the instigation of Cardinal Donnet, then Bishop of Bordeaux. It was not completed until 1905.
Catering
Catering
The transept cannot be preserved. Nor can the restorers preserve the bell tower.
They were unable to completely clear the building of sand. The dune is still there, beside it. There are still some 7 metres of height buried beneath the sand. The basilica is entered by a flight of steps leading down to the nave. Inside, the top of the secondary vaults can be seen here and there, flush with the ground. On the outside, the choir and apse have not been uncovered, in order to preserve the structure of the building itself.
Soulac is just 9 kilometers from Euronat. Visiting Soulac and its basilica is a real pleasure. Classical music concerts are held throughout the summer in the church, an ideal opportunity to appreciate its architecture.
To visit the basilica and find out more, take the DISCOVERY OF THE BASILICA AND VILLAS tour organized by the Soulac sur mer tourist office.
