Pontius Meropius Paulinus (ca 353-431), one of the greatest poets of Late Latin Poetry and author of an important correspondence, was born in a wealthy family of the Gallo-Roman aristocracy in Bordeaux. After his spectacular conversion to asceticism and his sacerdotal ordination, he set up definitively as a monk in Italy, in Campanian Nola besides the tomb of St. Felix.There, Paulinus devoted his considerable fortune to the restructuring of the monumental complex which has appeared around this holy place, since the early years of the fourth century and mainly a church. This book is a literary and spiritual study of the description of this complex (carm. 27 and 28 and epist. 32), an other way of edification (the edification of the soul in temple for her creator.) A careful comparison with archaeological testimonies must help estimate the status of Paulinus'monumental descriptions. ***Pontius Meropius Paulinus (vers 353-431), un des plus grands poetes de l'Antiquite tardive, auteur d'une importante correspondance, est issu d'une riche famille de l'aristocratie bordelaise. Apres sa conversion spectaculaire a l'ascetisme et son ordination sacerdotale, il vint s'installer definitivement en tant que moine a Nole en Campanie aupres de la tombe de saint Felix.La Paulin consacra sa fortune considerable a la restructuration du complexe monumental apparu autour de ce saint lieu, depuis les premieres annees du quatrieme siecle, principalement une eglise. Ce livre est une etude litteraire et spirituelle de la description de ce complexe (carm. 27 et 28; epist. 32), une autre sorte d'edification (celle de l'ame en temple pour son createur). Une comparaison prudente avec les temoignages archeologiques permettra d'evaluer le statut des descriptions monumentales de Paulin.