Throughout Occitania and Catalonia, many religious buildings flourished in the Middle Ages and offer us, 1000 years later, an extraordinary heritage to discover. Explore it by following the Romanesque art route in the Mediterranean Pyrenees!
In Roussillon and the Albères, Benedictine abbeys, such as Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines et Saint-André, were founded to promote and supervise the economy. Over the centuries, they have remained major landmarks and remain, even today, at the heart of life in our region.
Their churches – former abbeys – welcome not only visitors and specialists, but also concerts. In addition, they continue to open their doors to local residents on important occasions in their lives.
Follow the road and the paths
They will take you from churches to Romanesque chapels to travel back in time. Take the time to pass through their doors and immerse yourself in 1000 years of history!
Elne
Built on the remains of an ancient oppidum, the episcopal city is distinguished today by its remarkable heritage. At the heart of this, the Romanesque cathedral, built in the 11th century, attracts the eye by its visibility, both from the sea and from inland. Next to it, the impressive cloister in gray marble with blue veins, whose construction began at the height of Romanesque art and continued into the Gothic era, constitutes a true architectural jewel.
Its capitals illustrate a true stylistic evolution. Indeed, they move from the Romanesque style, characteristic of 12th-century Roussillon workshops, to the Gothic style. Furthermore, they are distinguished by a profusion of original motifs, mixing plant, animal, and religious themes.
Saint-André (known as Sorède)
This ancient Benedictine abbey, founded in 820, has left us a magnificent Romanesque church and numerous sculptures from the 11th and 12th centuries. On the facade we discover its sculpted lintel in Carrara marble, the terrible simiots and the surprising window with a richly sculpted marble frame.
The interior is no less rich! Sculpted high altar, Muslim tombstone, Roman holy water font, Roman terminals... So many treasures from the past preserved in this church that you must discover!
Its architecture, purely Romanesque, bears witness to the art of building between the 12th and XNUMXth centuries. With its Latin cross plan, its majestic chevet, its barrel vault culminating at XNUMX m high, it is one of the most beautiful sites of Catalan Romanesque art!
Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines
Just like its neighbor Saint-André, this old abbey has preserved its church, dedicated to Saint Michael, which has become a parish church... and many treasures! The list of things to discover is long here too!
It's impossible to miss the magnificent carved lintel present on the facade of the church. A major piece of Romanesque art, it is the first dated Romanesque sculpture in Roussillon. Its Latin inscription allows it to be dated to the year: between October 1019 and October 1020. It has just celebrated its thousandth anniversary and still retains a fascinating beauty!
Discover the lintel conservation project (2025)
Another obvious thing: visit its cloister. Built in the 13th century, it is notable for its polychrome marble. The sculptures feature varied motifs, including local flora and fauna, allegorical subjects, and liturgical scenes.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a large part of the cloister columns were sold and the cloister dismantled. Thanks to the combined efforts of the town hall and the ASVAC association, the stones were reinstalled at the end of the 20th century. Thus, this majestic place was given new life!
Focus on the Ste Colombe de Cabanes chapel
This former outbuilding of the Saint-André-de-Sorède monastery is today in the commune of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines. This single-nave building with a Latin cross plan carefully preserves four columns crowned with Romanesque capitals sculpted in marble from the former cloister of Saint-André.
The chapel can be visited during the summer season, inquire at 04 48 98 00 02.
Villelongue-dels-Monts
The Priory of Our Lady of Vilar, a former collegiate church founded around 1089, is nestled in a haven of peace and greenery above the village of Villelongue-dels-Monts. Its decline led over time to the ruin of the buildings… But here again, the will and passion allowed its rebirth thanks in particular to its previous owner and many volunteers! Since then, the church and certain spaces are open to visits thanks to the community of Orthodox monks. It is installed there year-round and now takes care of the place.
Romanesque art treasures in the Mediterranean Pyrenees
