Routes Santiago de Compostela - Aire-sur-l'Adour : Eglise Sainte-Quitterie

Reference : FR088

POSTCARD AVAILABLE FOR TRADE
Size : 10 x 15 cm

"Aire-sur-l'Adour (Landes - France)
L'église Saint-Pierre du-Mas dite de Sainte-Quitterie"

Location of AIRE-SUR-L'ADOUR in FRANCE :

Aire-sur-l'Adour

Aire-sur-l'Adour is a commune in the Landes département in Aquitaine in south-western France.

It lies on the river Adour in the wine area of southwest France. It is an episcopal see of the Diocese of Aire and Dax. The nearest large towns are Mont-de-Marsan to the north and Pau to the south.

The Church of Sainte-Quitterie is dedicated to Saint Quiteria, who, according to Christian tradition, was beheaded here in the fifth century. This church was on the pilgrimage route of Santiago de Compostela.

Sainte-Quitterie church

• Half way up the slope of the plateau, the church and 12th century romanesque apse ;
• The tympanum of the great gothic portal is consecrated to the Las Judgement ;
• The half-dome celling and reamins of 14th century frescoes ;
• In a niche in the crypt, the white marble 4th century sarcophagus, said to be Sainte-Quitterie ;
• Antique mask used to decorate the corners of the lid of the sarcophagus.
  

As one of the multiple locations (ID number : 868-011)
of the Routes of Santiago de Compostela, on via Tolosana,
Sainte-Quitterie church is registered on UNESCO w.h.s. list.

UNESCO w.h.s. :
Routes of Santiago de Compostela in France

Date of inscription : 1998

Santiago de Compostela was the supreme goal for countless thousands of pious pilgrims who converged there from all over Europe throughout the Middle Ages. To reach Spain pilgrims had to pass through France, and the group of important historical monuments included in this inscription marks out the four routes by which they did so.

Multiple locations list.