The Sainte-Croix church of Oloron-Sainte-Marie was built from 1080, at the same time as the city of Sainte-Croix was established. Served by canons of the Augustinian order, the church was a parish until the 14th century. It was transformed for a time into a Protestant temple from 1569 to 1621.
Architecturally, the plan is made up of a nave and two side aisles ending in a choir extended by a cul-de-four apse. The north portal is from the Romanesque period, and is decorated with carved capitals. On the other hand, the side portal built in the 19th century was removed in the 20th century to restore the church to its original appearance.
One of the distinctive features of the church is its ribbed dome of Byzantine and Mozarabic inspiration which covers the crossing of the transept. Inside, barrel or semi-barrel vaults are also typical of Romanesque art, like the many capitals with plant motifs or evoking biblical themes.
In the 19th century, large frescoes representing the 'Passion of Christ' and the 'Last Judgment' were painted, particularly in the choir. There is also a pulpit and stalls from the beginning of the 18th century as well as the altar and its altarpiece in the Spanish Baroque style, dating from the same period (1708).
References:The Clementinum is a historic complex of buildings in Prague. Until recently the complex hosted the National, University and Technical libraries, the City Library also being located nearby on Mariánské Náměstí. The Technical library and the Municipal library have moved to the Prague National Technical Library at Technická 6 since 2009. It is currently in use as the National Library of the Czech Republic.
Its history dates from the existence of a chapel dedicated to Saint Clement in the 11th century. A Dominican monastery was founded in the medieval period, which was transformed in 1556 to a Jesuit college. In 1622 the Jesuits transferred the library of Charles University to the Klementinum, and the college was merged with the University in 1654. The Jesuits remained until 1773, when the Klementinum was established as an observatory, library, and university by the Empress Maria Theresa of Austria.