Monastery established at the end of the 10th century on an eminence on edge of L'Eau Bourde a tributary of the Garonne a kilometer outside of Bordeaux. Role of a legendary saint Mommolin, Mummolus or Mummolenus a monk from S-Aignan of Orléans (d. c. 679). Wealthy from rights on wine trade. The nave dominated by a cult statue of the saint. Tradition of patronage of Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine
The monastery was reconstructed by William, count of Bordeaux after 1099 -- oldest parts of the church belong to eleventh century. The three vessels of the nave were originally covered with a wooden roof--late 12th century the nave piers were raised higher and rib vaults built -- sexpartite over the nave and quadripartite over the aisles.
Chauliac, A., Histoire de l'abbaye Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux, Paris, 1910
Leroy, F., Histoire du monastère de Sainte Croix de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, 1842
Sauvel, T., Hauts-reliefs romans de la Sauve Majeure et de Sainte-Croix de Bordeaux, Paris, 1953
