The Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean is nestled in the picturesque village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne in the Charente department, close to the Dordogne border, France.
This medieval architecture is carved directly into a massive cliff overlooking the village.
This church is one of the largest rock-hewn churches in Europe.
History of Aubeterre Monolithic Church
The origins of the Monolithic Church of Aubeterre date back to the 8th century.
It began as a simple cavity in the rock.
This early version of the church featured a baptismal pool, intricately carved with a Greek cross, a symbol of early Christian worship.
However, it was in the 12th century that the church was expanded by Pierre de Castillon, the Viscount of Aubeterre, who had recently returned from the Crusades.
He was inspired by the cave churches he had seen in Cappadocia, Turkey, and wanted to create a similar structure in his own region.
The church was initially dedicated to the Holy Saviour but was later rededicated to Saint John during the Wars of Religion in the 16th century.
It served as the parish church until 1794 when it was repurposed as a saltpeter factory to supply gunpowder to the revolutionary armies during the French Revolution.
Afterward, it became a cemetery until 1865, when public health concerns led to its closure for burials.
The church remained hidden for many years due to a rockfall and was only rediscovered in the 1950s.
In 1912, the church was classified as a historic monument
Architecture
The Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean is a massive structure, measuring 27 meters long, 16 meters wide, and 20 meters high at its tallest point.
The church’s design is both impressive and intricate.
The main nave is separated from a single side aisle by a row of octagonal pillars, which shift from an octagonal base to a square top.
The vaulted ceilings, cut in a semicircular arch, rise nearly 20 meters above the floor.
At the center of the apse stands a six-meter-high stone reliquary, a jewel of Romanesque art.
This hexagonal monument, carved from a single block of stone, is inspired by the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, as described by the Crusaders.
It is believed that the reliquary once held pieces of the True Cross, brought back from the Crusades by Pierre de Castillon.
The church also features a necropolis with nearly 170 tombs, each carved into the stone floor and oriented with the head pointing towards Jerusalem.
These tombs date back to the 7th century and add to the church’s historical significance.
Visiting the Church Today
Today, the Monolithic Church of Saint-Jean is open to visitors year-round, except on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.
The entrance to the church is located below the medieval castle of Aubeterre.
The church itself is almost invisible from the outside, blending seamlessly into the cliffside.
The entrance fee is 5 euros for adults and 2 euros for children aged 2-12.
