Former abbey founded before the 12th century on the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa, the Saint-Pierre abbey of Vertheuil, in Gironde, was occupied for a long time by the Benedictines before passing into the hands of the canons regular of Saint-Augustin.
Destroyed many times by the Hundred Years War or by the wars of religion, the Saint-Pierre Abbey of Vertheuil was rebuilt in the 18th century before experiencing further destruction in the middle of the 20th century.
Now owned by the municipality, it still unveils many vestiges classified as Historical Monuments such as arcades, vaulted cellars, wall bases, a bread oven or the wall of the old vat room. The set seduces with its typical 18th century style, elegant and classic. Around remains an elegant English park.
The church, a fine example of Romanesque art inspired by Saintonge, reveals to visitors a nave with two side aisles and a barrel-vaulted ambulatory. It is possible to admire inside very beautiful sculptures of capitals, stalls with sculpted armrests from the 15th century or even pedicled stone baptismal font from the same period.
Very redesigned, the exterior of the church of Saint-Pierre abbey in Vertheuil presents in particular on the Romanesque porch of the south wall sculptures of riders or laborers. Square, the 16th century bell tower houses an impressive staircase giving access to the fortified apse. Older, the north bell tower dates from the 12th century.
