In Saintonge-Romanesque style, the abbey of Sauve-Majeur was founded by the Benedictine Gerard de Corbie (the future St Gerard) in 1079. It became a powerful feudal powerbase and established numerous priories as far afield as Spain and England. Monastic life was abandoned in the 16C, started again in the 17C and finally ceased during the 18C Revolutionary Terror. In 1809, the abbey church vaults collapsed. Today, visitors can still see magnificent capitals on top of some columns.