The most beautiful religious buildings Pyrénées-Orientales

In the heart of a forest of holm oaks, perched on a rocky spur overlooking the Aspres massif, this small church was built at the end of the 11th century by local peasants. The richness of the interior of the priory is dazzling. The capitals and the Romanesque sculptures in pink marble from Villefranche-de-Conflent illustrate the religious art of the 10th and 12th centuries in the Roussillon region. The details abound: stylized mythological animals, griffins, lions, snakes, eagles with spread wings and a whole flora, roses and acanthus leaves. Particularly remarkable, the tribune is considered to be the finest example of Romanesque sculpture in the Catalan region. The marble of the Conflent, contributes to magnify this unsigned masterpiece realized around 1150. It divides the nave in two parts, one reserved for the canons, the other accessible to the faithful. The platform with its incomplete balustrade housed the choir. A botanical garden has been laid out around the priory on about fifty hectares, inviting you to discover its scents. The surroundings of Serrabona are also a magical place for beautiful walks in the heart of the wild Aspres: forests, meadows, small streams... This enchanting setting will seduce nature lovers and above all you will find a calm and bucolic atmosphere opposite the bustle of the coast. A visit to Serrabona is the perfect excursion for a family afternoon. Serrabona leaves no one indifferent!

The Abbey of Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines is an ancient Benedictine monastery founded in 778-780. Like many religious buildings, it suffered many damages after the Revolution. The cloister is a rare example of transitional architecture between the Romanesque and the Gothic. This cloister is also worth a visit for the polychromy of its marble. As for the robust church, it is worth a visit for its lintel, the oldest stone dated Romanesque sculpture (1020).