Église Saint-Andéol de Bourg-Saint-Andéol, Church building in Bourg-Saint-Andéol, France

Église Saint-Andéol de Bourg-Saint-Andéol is an old stone church on a hill above the Rhône river in southern France. Its thick walls, small round-arched windows, and a square bell tower give it a sturdy, simple outline that fits with the old houses around it.

A Carolingian church stood here from the second half of the 9th century, built by Bishop Bernoin of Viviers, of which only his gravestone survives. In 1108 Bishop Léger gave the church to the canons of Saint-Ruf, who built the present Romanesque church, consecrated on 28 February 1119 by Pope Calixte II. The canons were expelled by the secular clergy and only reinstated by Pope Innocent III in 1206; they served until 1772. The church was sacked in 1568 by the troops of the baron des Adrets and restored from 1862 to 1868.

Near the entrance, a small porch carries carved stone that hints at the skill of the builders. Locals still use the church for services and gatherings, so the sound of bells or voices often carries through the nearby lanes on a Sunday morning.

Walking around the outside lets you see the rounded chevet and its rows of small arches, so allow time to circle the building before going in. Inside, the floor can be uneven, and the light is low, so watch your step as you move toward the altar.

Inside the church stands the sarcophagus that holds the relics of Saint Andéol. It is a Roman pagan coffin made for a five-year-old boy, and its Latin inscription survives on one side; between the 9th and 12th centuries it was kept in the Saint-Polycarpe chapel before being moved here, when one side was carved with two saints and an inscription.