diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/CassandraClusterFactoryBean.java b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/CassandraClusterFactoryBean.java
index ea21b424c..c0360cb0a 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/CassandraClusterFactoryBean.java
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/CassandraClusterFactoryBean.java
@@ -15,9 +15,19 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.cassandra.config;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+
+import org.slf4j.Logger;
+import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.DisposableBean;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.InitializingBean;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.CassandraTemplate;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.cql.generator.CreateKeyspaceCqlGenerator;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.cql.generator.DropKeyspaceCqlGenerator;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.CreateKeyspaceSpecification;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.DropKeyspaceSpecification;
 import org.springframework.cassandra.support.CassandraExceptionTranslator;
 import org.springframework.dao.DataAccessException;
 import org.springframework.dao.support.PersistenceExceptionTranslator;
@@ -28,6 +38,7 @@ import com.datastax.driver.core.Cluster;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.HostDistance;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.PoolingOptions;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.ProtocolOptions.Compression;
+import com.datastax.driver.core.Session;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.SocketOptions;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.policies.LoadBalancingPolicy;
 import com.datastax.driver.core.policies.ReconnectionPolicy;
@@ -39,10 +50,11 @@ import com.datastax.driver.core.policies.RetryPolicy;
  * @author Alex Shvid
  * @author Matthew T. Adams
  */
-
 public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, InitializingBean, DisposableBean,
 		PersistenceExceptionTranslator {
 
+	protected static final Logger log = LoggerFactory.getLogger(CassandraClusterFactoryBean.class);
+
 	private static final int DEFAULT_PORT = 9042;
 
 	private Cluster cluster;
@@ -64,6 +76,12 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 
 	private final PersistenceExceptionTranslator exceptionTranslator = new CassandraExceptionTranslator();
 
+	private List<CreateKeyspaceSpecification> keyspaceCreations = new ArrayList<CreateKeyspaceSpecification>();
+	private List<DropKeyspaceSpecification> keyspaceDrops = new ArrayList<DropKeyspaceSpecification>();
+
+	private List<String> scripts = new ArrayList<String>();
+
+	@Override
 	public Cluster getObject() throws Exception {
 		return cluster;
 	}
@@ -72,6 +90,7 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#getObjectType()
 	 */
+	@Override
 	public Class<? extends Cluster> getObjectType() {
 		return Cluster.class;
 	}
@@ -80,6 +99,7 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.FactoryBean#isSingleton()
 	 */
+	@Override
 	public boolean isSingleton() {
 		return true;
 	}
@@ -88,6 +108,7 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.springframework.dao.support.PersistenceExceptionTranslator#translateExceptionIfPossible(java.lang.RuntimeException)
 	 */
+	@Override
 	public DataAccessException translateExceptionIfPossible(RuntimeException ex) {
 		return exceptionTranslator.translateExceptionIfPossible(ex);
 	}
@@ -96,6 +117,7 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 	 * (non-Javadoc)
 	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.InitializingBean#afterPropertiesSet()
 	 */
+	@Override
 	public void afterPropertiesSet() throws Exception {
 
 		if (!StringUtils.hasText(contactPoints)) {
@@ -146,13 +168,72 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 
 		// initialize property
 		this.cluster = cluster;
+
+		processKeyspaceCreations();
+		executeCqlScripts();
 	}
 
-	/* 
-	 * (non-Javadoc)
-	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.DisposableBean#destroy()
-	 */
+	protected void processKeyspaceCreations() {
+
+		Session system = null;
+		try {
+			system = keyspaceCreations.size() > 0 ? cluster.connect() : null;
+			CassandraTemplate template = system == null ? null : new CassandraTemplate(system);
+
+			for (CreateKeyspaceSpecification spec : this.keyspaceCreations) {
+
+				String cql = new CreateKeyspaceCqlGenerator(spec).toCql();
+
+				if (log.isDebugEnabled()) {
+					log.info("executing CQL [{}]", cql);
+				}
+
+				template.execute(cql);
+			}
+		} finally {
+			if (system != null) {
+				system.shutdown();
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	protected void executeCqlScripts() {
+
+		Session system = null;
+		try {
+			system = scripts.size() > 0 ? cluster.connect() : null;
+			CassandraTemplate template = system == null ? null : new CassandraTemplate(system);
+
+			for (String cql : this.scripts) {
+				if (cql.trim().length() == 0) {
+					continue;
+				}
+				template.execute(cql);
+			}
+		} finally {
+			if (system != null) {
+				system.shutdown();
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	@Override
 	public void destroy() throws Exception {
+
+		Session system = null;
+		try {
+			system = keyspaceDrops.size() > 0 ? cluster.connect() : null;
+			CassandraTemplate template = new CassandraTemplate(system);
+
+			for (DropKeyspaceSpecification spec : this.keyspaceDrops) {
+				template.execute(new DropKeyspaceCqlGenerator(spec).toCql());
+			}
+		} finally {
+			if (system != null) {
+				system.shutdown();
+			}
+		}
+
 		this.cluster.shutdown();
 	}
 
@@ -200,6 +281,26 @@ public class CassandraClusterFactoryBean implements FactoryBean<Cluster>, Initia
 		this.metricsEnabled = metricsEnabled;
 	}
 
+	public void setKeyspaceCreations(List<CreateKeyspaceSpecification> specifications) {
+		this.keyspaceCreations = specifications;
+	}
+
+	public List<CreateKeyspaceSpecification> getKeyspaceCreations() {
+		return keyspaceCreations;
+	}
+
+	public void setKeyspaceDrops(List<DropKeyspaceSpecification> specifications) {
+		this.keyspaceDrops = specifications;
+	}
+
+	public List<DropKeyspaceSpecification> getKeyspaceDrops() {
+		return keyspaceDrops;
+	}
+
+	public void setScripts(List<String> scripts) {
+		this.scripts = scripts;
+	}
+
 	private static Compression convertCompressionType(CompressionType type) {
 		switch (type) {
 		case NONE:
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraClusterParser.java b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraClusterParser.java
index e454049c0..683fcdab8 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraClusterParser.java
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraClusterParser.java
@@ -15,7 +15,10 @@
  */
 package org.springframework.cassandra.config.xml;
 
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.HashMap;
 import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
 
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.BeanDefinitionStoreException;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.config.BeanDefinition;
@@ -27,9 +30,15 @@ import org.springframework.cassandra.config.CassandraClusterFactoryBean;
 import org.springframework.cassandra.config.CompressionType;
 import org.springframework.cassandra.config.PoolingOptionsConfig;
 import org.springframework.cassandra.config.SocketOptionsConfig;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.CreateKeyspaceSpecification;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.DefaultOption;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.DropKeyspaceSpecification;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.KeyspaceOption;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.core.keyspace.Option;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
 import org.springframework.util.xml.DomUtils;
 import org.w3c.dom.Element;
+import org.w3c.dom.NodeList;
 
 /**
  * Parser for &lt;cluster;gt; definitions.
@@ -45,10 +54,6 @@ public class CassandraClusterParser extends AbstractSimpleBeanDefinitionParser {
 		return CassandraClusterFactoryBean.class;
 	}
 
-	/* 
-	 * (non-Javadoc)
-	 * @see org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.AbstractBeanDefinitionParser#resolveId(org.w3c.dom.Element, org.springframework.beans.factory.support.AbstractBeanDefinition, org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.ParserContext)
-	 */
 	@Override
 	protected String resolveId(Element element, AbstractBeanDefinition definition, ParserContext parserContext)
 			throws BeanDefinitionStoreException {
@@ -79,6 +84,11 @@ public class CassandraClusterParser extends AbstractSimpleBeanDefinitionParser {
 	}
 
 	protected void parseChildElements(BeanDefinitionBuilder builder, Element element) {
+
+		List<CreateKeyspaceSpecification> creates = new ArrayList<CreateKeyspaceSpecification>();
+		List<DropKeyspaceSpecification> drops = new ArrayList<DropKeyspaceSpecification>();
+		List<String> scripts = new ArrayList<String>();
+
 		List<Element> elements = DomUtils.getChildElements(element);
 
 		// parse nested elements
@@ -91,9 +101,101 @@ public class CassandraClusterParser extends AbstractSimpleBeanDefinitionParser {
 				builder.addPropertyValue("remotePoolingOptions", parsePoolingOptions(subElement));
 			} else if ("socket-options".equals(name)) {
 				builder.addPropertyValue("socketOptions", parseSocketOptions(subElement));
+			} else if ("keyspace".equals(name)) {
+
+				KeyspaceSpecifications specifications = parseKeyspace(subElement);
+
+				if (specifications.create != null) {
+					creates.add(specifications.create);
+				}
+				if (specifications.drop != null) {
+					drops.add(specifications.drop);
+				}
+			} else if ("cql".equals(name)) {
+				scripts.add(parseScript(subElement));
 			}
 		}
 
+		builder.addPropertyValue("keyspaceCreations", creates);
+		builder.addPropertyValue("keyspaceDrops", drops);
+		builder.addPropertyValue("scripts", scripts);
+	}
+
+	private KeyspaceSpecifications parseKeyspace(Element element) {
+
+		CreateKeyspaceSpecification create = null;
+		DropKeyspaceSpecification drop = null;
+
+		String name = element.getAttribute("name");
+		if (name == null || name.trim().length() == 0) {
+			name = BeanNames.CASSANDRA_KEYSPACE;
+		}
+
+		boolean durableWrites = Boolean.valueOf(element.getAttribute("durable-writes"));
+
+		String action = element.getAttribute("action");
+		if (action == null || action.trim().length() == 0) {
+			throw new IllegalArgumentException("attribute action must be given");
+		}
+
+		if (action.startsWith("CREATE")) {
+
+			create = CreateKeyspaceSpecification.createKeyspace().name(name)
+					.with(KeyspaceOption.DURABLE_WRITES, durableWrites);
+
+			NodeList nodes = element.getElementsByTagName("replication");
+			parseReplication((Element) (nodes.getLength() == 1 ? nodes.item(0) : null), create);
+		}
+
+		if (action.equals("CREATE-DROP")) {
+			drop = DropKeyspaceSpecification.dropKeyspace().name(create.getName());
+		}
+
+		return new KeyspaceSpecifications(create, drop);
+	}
+
+	protected void parseReplication(Element element, CreateKeyspaceSpecification create) {
+
+		String strategyClass = null;
+		if (element != null) {
+			strategyClass = element.getAttribute("class");
+		}
+		if (strategyClass == null || strategyClass.trim().length() == 0) {
+			strategyClass = "SimpleStrategy";
+		}
+
+		Long replicationFactor = null;
+		if (element != null) {
+			String s = element.getAttribute("replication-factor");
+			replicationFactor = (s == null || s.trim().length() == 0) ? null : Long.parseLong(s);
+		}
+		if (replicationFactor == null) {
+			replicationFactor = 1L;
+		}
+
+		Map<Option, Object> replicationMap = new HashMap<Option, Object>();
+		replicationMap.put(new DefaultOption("class", String.class, false, false, true), strategyClass);
+		replicationMap.put(new DefaultOption("replication_factor", Long.class, true, false, false), replicationFactor);
+
+		if (element != null) {
+
+			NodeList dataCenters = element.getElementsByTagName("data-center");
+
+			int length = dataCenters.getLength();
+			for (int i = 0; i < length; i++) {
+
+				Element dataCenter = (Element) dataCenters.item(i);
+
+				replicationMap.put(new DefaultOption(dataCenter.getAttribute("name"), Long.class, false, false, true),
+						dataCenter.getAttribute("replicas-per-node"));
+			}
+		}
+
+		create.with(KeyspaceOption.REPLICATION, replicationMap);
+	}
+
+	private String parseScript(Element element) {
+		return element.getTextContent();
 	}
 
 	private BeanDefinition parsePoolingOptions(Element element) {
@@ -121,4 +223,15 @@ public class CassandraClusterParser extends AbstractSimpleBeanDefinitionParser {
 		return builder.getBeanDefinition();
 	}
 
+	private static class KeyspaceSpecifications {
+
+		public KeyspaceSpecifications(CreateKeyspaceSpecification create, DropKeyspaceSpecification drop) {
+			this.create = create;
+			this.drop = drop;
+		}
+
+		public CreateKeyspaceSpecification create;
+		public DropKeyspaceSpecification drop;
+		// TODO: public AlterKeyspaceSpecification alter;
+	}
 }
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraNamespaceHandler.java b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraNamespaceHandler.java
index f09b3071c..9d743fa39 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraNamespaceHandler.java
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/config/xml/CassandraNamespaceHandler.java
@@ -26,10 +26,11 @@ import org.springframework.beans.factory.xml.NamespaceHandlerSupport;
 
 public class CassandraNamespaceHandler extends NamespaceHandlerSupport {
 
+	@Override
 	public void init() {
 
 		registerBeanDefinitionParser("cluster", new CassandraClusterParser());
 		registerBeanDefinitionParser("session", new CassandraSessionParser());
 		registerBeanDefinitionParser("template", new CassandraTemplateParser());
 	}
-}
+}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/core/keyspace/CreateKeyspaceSpecification.java b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/core/keyspace/CreateKeyspaceSpecification.java
index be04dd195..f945093e4 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/core/keyspace/CreateKeyspaceSpecification.java
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/main/java/org/springframework/cassandra/core/keyspace/CreateKeyspaceSpecification.java
@@ -35,6 +35,11 @@ public class CreateKeyspaceSpecification extends KeyspaceSpecification<CreateKey
 		return new CreateKeyspaceSpecification();
 	}
 
+	@Override
+	public CreateKeyspaceSpecification name(String name) {
+		return (CreateKeyspaceSpecification) super.name(name);
+	}
+
 	@Override
 	public CreateKeyspaceSpecification with(KeyspaceOption option) {
 		return (CreateKeyspaceSpecification) super.with(option);
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/main/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/config/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd b/spring-cassandra/src/main/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/config/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd
index 03cd992b8..fde61b40a 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/main/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/config/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/main/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/config/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ Defines a Cassandra Session.
 		<xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:documentation
 				source="org.springframework.cassandra.config.xml.TemplateFactoryBean"><![CDATA[
-Defines a Cassandra Templat.
+Defines a Cassandra Template.
 			]]></xsd:documentation>
 			<xsd:appinfo>
 				<tool:annotation>
@@ -67,6 +67,21 @@ Defines a Cassandra Cluster.
 			</xsd:element>
 			<xsd:element name="socket-options" type="socketOptionsType"
 				maxOccurs="1" minOccurs="0"></xsd:element>
+			<xsd:element name="keyspace" type="keyspaceType" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Defines a Cassandra Keyspace.
+					]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+			</xsd:element>
+			<xsd:element name="cql" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Arbitrary CQL script to be executed against the system keyspace during bean initialization.
+					]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+				<!-- TODO: cql could come from a resource via a resource attribute... -->
+			</xsd:element>
 		</xsd:sequence>
 		<xsd:attribute name="id" type="xsd:ID" use="optional">
 			<xsd:annotation>
@@ -81,7 +96,7 @@ Defines a Cassandra Cluster.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 The comma separated list of Cassandra servers.  Default is localhost.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="port" type="xsd:string" use="optional"
@@ -89,14 +104,14 @@ The comma separated list of Cassandra servers.  Default is localhost.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 The native CQL port to connect to.  Default is 9042.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="compression" default="NONE" use="optional">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 The protocol compression option. Default is 'none'.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:simpleType>
 				<xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
@@ -104,14 +119,14 @@ The protocol compression option. Default is 'none'.
 						<xsd:annotation>
 							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 No compression.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 						</xsd:annotation>
 					</xsd:enumeration>
 					<xsd:enumeration value="SNAPPY">
 						<xsd:annotation>
 							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Uses SNAPPY compression algorithm.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 						</xsd:annotation>
 					</xsd:enumeration>
 				</xsd:restriction>
@@ -121,7 +136,7 @@ Uses SNAPPY compression algorithm.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 AuthInfoProvider implementation.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:simpleType>
 				<xsd:annotation>
@@ -138,7 +153,7 @@ AuthInfoProvider implementation.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 LoadBalancingPolicy implementation.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:simpleType>
 				<xsd:annotation>
@@ -156,7 +171,7 @@ LoadBalancingPolicy implementation.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 ReconnectionPolicy implementation.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:simpleType>
 				<xsd:annotation>
@@ -174,7 +189,7 @@ ReconnectionPolicy implementation.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 RetryPolicy implementation.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 			<xsd:simpleType>
 				<xsd:annotation>
@@ -217,28 +232,28 @@ RetryPolicy implementation.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 if the utilisation of opened connections drops below by this configured threshold, then cassandra drops connections till core-connections.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="max-simultaneous-requests" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 If the utilisation of connections reaches this configurable threshold, then cassandra creates more connections up to max-connections.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="core-connections" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 For each host, the driver keeps a core amount of connections open at all time.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="max-connections" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 More connections are created up to a configurable maximum number of connections.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 	</xsd:complexType>
@@ -248,54 +263,64 @@ More connections are created up to a configurable maximum number of connections.
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets connection timeout for client socket in milliseconds.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="keep-alive" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_KEEPALIVE socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="reuse-address" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_REUSEADDR socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="so-linger" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_LINGER socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="tcp-no-delay" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_TCPNODELAY socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="receive-buffer-size" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_RCVBUF socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 		<xsd:attribute name="send-buffer-size" type="xsd:string">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
 Sets the SO_SNDBUF socket option.
-							]]></xsd:documentation>
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
 			</xsd:annotation>
 		</xsd:attribute>
 	</xsd:complexType>
 
 	<xsd:complexType name="sessionType">
+		<xsd:sequence>
+			<xsd:element name="cql" type="xsd:string" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+				<xsd:annotation>
+					<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Arbitrary CQL script to be executed against the named keyspace (like CREATE TABLE, etc) during bean initialization.
+					]]></xsd:documentation>
+				</xsd:annotation>
+				<!-- TODO: cql could come from a resource via a resource attribute... -->
+			</xsd:element>
+		</xsd:sequence>
 		<xsd:attribute name="id" type="xsd:ID" use="optional">
 			<xsd:annotation>
 				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
@@ -339,4 +364,68 @@ The reference to a Cassandra Session; default is 'cassandra-session'.
 		</xsd:attribute>
 	</xsd:complexType>
 
+	<xsd:complexType name="keyspaceType">
+		<xsd:sequence>
+			<xsd:element name="replication" type="replicationType" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="1"/>
+		</xsd:sequence>
+		<xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required">
+			<xsd:annotation>
+				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+The name of this keyspace.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+			</xsd:annotation>
+		</xsd:attribute>
+		<xsd:attribute name="action" use="required">
+			<xsd:annotation>
+				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+The keyspace action to take at startup.  Value "CREATE" creates this keyspace.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+			</xsd:annotation>
+			<xsd:simpleType>
+				<xsd:restriction base="xsd:string">
+					<xsd:enumeration value="CREATE">
+						<xsd:annotation>
+							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Action value that causes keyspace creation during bean initialization.
+							]]></xsd:documentation>
+						</xsd:annotation>
+					</xsd:enumeration>
+					<xsd:enumeration value="CREATE-DROP">
+						<xsd:annotation>
+							<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Action value that causes keyspace creation during bean initialization and keyspace dropping during bean destruction.
+							]]></xsd:documentation>
+						</xsd:annotation>
+					</xsd:enumeration>
+				</xsd:restriction>
+			</xsd:simpleType>
+		</xsd:attribute>
+		<xsd:attribute name="durable-writes" type="xsd:boolean"
+			use="required">
+			<xsd:annotation>
+				<xsd:documentation><![CDATA[
+Whether or not the keyspace supports durable writes.
+				]]></xsd:documentation>
+			</xsd:annotation>
+		</xsd:attribute>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+
+	<xsd:complexType name="replicationType">
+		<xsd:sequence>
+			<xsd:element name="data-center" type="datacenterType" minOccurs="0" maxOccurs="unbounded">
+			</xsd:element>
+		</xsd:sequence>
+		<xsd:attribute name="class" type="xsd:string" use="optional" default="SimpleStrategy">
+		</xsd:attribute>
+		<xsd:attribute name="replication-factor" type="xsd:integer" use="optional" default="1">
+		</xsd:attribute>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+	
+	<xsd:complexType name="datacenterType">
+		<xsd:attribute name="name" type="xsd:string" use="required">
+		</xsd:attribute>
+		<xsd:attribute name="replicas-per-node" type="xsd:integer">
+		</xsd:attribute>
+	</xsd:complexType>
+
 </xsd:schema>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..44ac32069
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+package org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.config.xml;
+
+import javax.inject.Inject;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.AbstractEmbeddedCassandraIntegrationTest;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.config.IntegrationTestUtils;
+import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
+import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
+
+import com.datastax.driver.core.Session;
+
+@RunWith(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.class)
+@ContextConfiguration
+public class FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest extends AbstractEmbeddedCassandraIntegrationTest {
+
+	@Override
+	protected String keyspace() {
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Inject
+	Session s;
+
+	@Test
+	public void test() {
+		IntegrationTestUtils.assertKeyspaceExists("full1", s);
+		IntegrationTestUtils.assertKeyspaceExists("full2", s);
+		IntegrationTestUtils.assertKeyspaceExists("script1", s);
+		IntegrationTestUtils.assertKeyspaceExists("script2", s);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..492605316
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+package org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.config.xml;
+
+import javax.inject.Inject;
+
+import org.junit.Test;
+import org.junit.runner.RunWith;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.AbstractEmbeddedCassandraIntegrationTest;
+import org.springframework.cassandra.test.integration.config.IntegrationTestUtils;
+import org.springframework.test.context.ContextConfiguration;
+import org.springframework.test.context.junit4.SpringJUnit4ClassRunner;
+
+import com.datastax.driver.core.Session;
+
+@RunWith(SpringJUnit4ClassRunner.class)
+@ContextConfiguration
+public class MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest extends AbstractEmbeddedCassandraIntegrationTest {
+
+	@Override
+	protected String keyspace() {
+		return null;
+	}
+
+	@Inject
+	Session s;
+
+	@Test
+	public void test() {
+		IntegrationTestUtils.assertKeyspaceExists("minimal", s);
+	}
+}
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/unit/core/cql/generator/AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests.java b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/unit/core/cql/generator/AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests.java
index 89a6d5ec4..e281fdaa7 100644
--- a/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/unit/core/cql/generator/AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests.java
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/java/org/springframework/cassandra/test/unit/core/cql/generator/AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests.java
@@ -56,10 +56,12 @@ public class AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests {
 
 		public String dropped = "dropped";
 
+		@Override
 		public AlterTableSpecification specification() {
 			return AlterTableSpecification.alterTable().name(name).alter(altered, alteredType).add(added, addedType);
 		}
 
+		@Override
 		public AlterTableCqlGenerator generator() {
 			return new AlterTableCqlGenerator(specification);
 		}
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ public class AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests {
 		public Map<Option, Object> compactionMap = new LinkedHashMap<Option, Object>();
 		public Map<Option, Object> compressionMap = new LinkedHashMap<Option, Object>();
 
+		@Override
 		public AlterTableSpecification specification() {
 
 			// Compaction
@@ -108,7 +111,7 @@ public class AlterTableCqlGeneratorTests {
 			compressionMap.put(CompressionOption.CHUNK_LENGTH_KB, 128);
 			compressionMap.put(CompressionOption.CRC_CHECK_CHANCE, 0.75);
 
-			return (AlterTableSpecification) AlterTableSpecification
+			return AlterTableSpecification
 					.alterTable()
 					.name(name)
 					// .with(TableOption.COMPACT_STORAGE)
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..cea9714fc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<beans xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans"
+	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:cass="http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra"
+	xmlns:context="http://www.springframework.org/schema/context"
+	xsi:schemaLocation="
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans/spring-beans-3.0.xsd
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/context http://www.springframework.org/schema/context/spring-context-3.0.xsd">
+
+	<context:property-placeholder
+		location="classpath:/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.properties" />
+
+	<cass:cluster>
+		<cass:keyspace action="CREATE-DROP" durable-writes="true"
+			name="full1">
+			<cass:replication class="SimpleStrategy"
+				replication-factor="1">
+				<cass:data-center name="foo" replicas-per-node="1" />
+				<cass:data-center name="bar" replicas-per-node="2" />
+			</cass:replication>
+		</cass:keyspace>
+		<cass:keyspace action="CREATE-DROP" durable-writes="true"
+			name="full2">
+			<cass:replication class="SimpleStrategy"
+				replication-factor="1">
+				<cass:data-center name="foo" replicas-per-node="1" />
+				<cass:data-center name="bar" replicas-per-node="2" />
+			</cass:replication>
+		</cass:keyspace>
+		<cass:cql><![CDATA[
+CREATE KEYSPACE script1 WITH durable_writes = true AND replication = { 'replication_factor' : 1, 'class' : 'SimpleStrategy' };
+		]]></cass:cql>
+		<cass:cql><![CDATA[
+${script2}
+		]]></cass:cql>
+	</cass:cluster>
+
+	<cass:session keyspace-name="full1" />
+</beans>
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.properties b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.properties
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a5049296f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/FullySpecifiedKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest.properties
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+script2=CREATE KEYSPACE script2 WITH durable_writes = true AND replication = { 'replication_factor' : 1, 'class' : 'SimpleStrategy' };
diff --git a/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..156cf8572
--- /dev/null
+++ b/spring-cassandra/src/test/resources/org/springframework/cassandra/test/integration/config/xml/MinimalKeyspaceCreatingXmlConfigTest-context.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
+<beans xmlns="http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans"
+	xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:cass="http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra"
+	xmlns:context="http://www.springframework.org/schema/context"
+	xsi:schemaLocation="
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra http://www.springframework.org/schema/cassandra/spring-cassandra-1.0.xsd
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans http://www.springframework.org/schema/beans/spring-beans-3.0.xsd
+	http://www.springframework.org/schema/context http://www.springframework.org/schema/context/spring-context-3.0.xsd">
+
+	<cass:cluster>
+		<cass:keyspace action="CREATE-DROP" durable-writes="true"
+			name="minimal" />
+	</cass:cluster>
+
+	<cass:session keyspace-name="minimal" />
+</beans>