Prieuré de Serrabone
Priory Serrabone

A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANESQUE ART

Sainte-Marie de Serrabona (serra bona : the good mountain) is situated in the valley of the Boulès in the heart of a green oak forest. It was founded in the 10th or 11th century and is mentioned in the archives from 1069.In 1082, under the patronage of the local lords and the Viscount of Conflent, who gave it property and revenues, a religious order of Augustinians was established.

A disagreement arose between the founders of the priory and the Bishop of Elne over the “Gregorian Reforms“, which wanted to reduce the religious functions and authority of the laymen. The Bishop believed that the nomination of the Prior was for him alone to decide, but the rich founders did not agree. A compromise was reached : only the religious orders would elect their leader.

The Augustinians led a communal life, like monks, but they also assured parish services. In the first half of the 12th century they built their own places next to the church : cloister, chapter room, dormitory... and decorated the priory with beautiful sculptures.

70 years passed before the rural church became a priory. In 1151 the new building was consecrated in the presence of bishops and abbots. Engraved crosses seen in the walls of the nave and the apse are a reminder of this ceremony.

The economic and population crisis of the 14th century started the decline of the priory.

The reduction of resources contributed to the lack of discipline. The communal life gave way to more individualism. In 1448 a Prior was deposed for “enormous crimes“, but we don't know what they were.

In 1592 all the Augustinian priories in Spain were closed. A year later, the priory and all its possessions were given to a new diocese, Solsona, in Catalonia, which kept them until 1896. This decision was applied in 1612 on the death of Jaume Serra, the last Prior of Serrabona.

Sainte-Marie's Church became the Parish church of the little village of Serrabona for two hundred years.

During this time shepherds and their flocks sometimes took refuge in the cloisters or in the church. In 1819 there was a partial collapse of the nave. In 1822 the commune of Serrabona, now poor and reduced in number, was abolished.

The priory came to the attention of the archaeologists, and in 1834 Mérimée visited the priory ;
Serrabona then became one of the first “historic monuments“.

In 1836 the first consolidation work began, and continued until the 20th century. Thanks to these successive restoration campaigns, the future of the building has been assured. The Jonquères d’Oriola family donated the Priory to the Departement of the Pyrénées-Orientales in 1968, and since then it has been open to the public.

ARCHITECTURE

The first church at Serrabona had just one nave with a pointed barrel vault. The establishment of a religious order in the 12th century led to an extensive transformation.

A transept and three apses replaced the early chevet. The principle apse, protruding on the exterior, is flanked by two absidoles enclosed in the walls. On the north side there is a second nave and a bell tower ; on the south side a cloister walk, and another building containing three rooms.

The thick walls of the nave are built of local schist rubble stone. The second construction was more elaborate and used large blocks of cut schist which were carefully placed.

The sculptures in the cloister, the main entrance, the window in the Apsidole and the gallery, are all worked in pink marble from the Conflent. They make a startling contrast to the green-grey of the schist.

PLAN

The Gallery, a special feature

The gallery is considered to be the most outstanding example of Romanesque sculpture in Catalonia. The quality of the material, marble from the Conflent, makes a great contribution to the work. A masterpiece executed by artists unknown, probably before 1150.

Three arches surmounted by a cornice make up the facade.

Its finely chiselled aspect contrasts with the Ronde - bosse* of the capitals. The facade is decorated between the arches (ecoinçons)*with Christian symbols taken from the Apocalypse.

At the extremities, two angels with open hands and their wings covering their bodies. The lion, symbol of Mark is placed next to the eagle of John. Opposite, the bull symbol of Luke is next to the winged man of Matthew. These four symbols surround the image of Christ : the Holy Lamb, within a mandorle*. The image is decorated with a variety of plant sculptures ; small palms, four petal roses and foliage cover the entire work.

Differences in the quality of the sculpture can be seen between the eagle and the lion on one side and the bull and the winged man on the other. The same observation can be made about the sculptures on the two pillars supporting the facade. They all, however, have the same style - a little enigmatic.

With the exception of the capital showing St Michel overcoming the dragon, the Serrabona sculptures are not narrative but symbolic. The lions occupy the angles of the capitals ; the eagles, the monkeys and other fantastic animals complete the amazing bestiary.

Some aspects of the decorative sculpture show that the artists of the Romanesque period drew on sources of inspiration acquired from cultural exchanges from all around the Mediterranean.

LEXICON

Priory : a monastery led by a prior, dependant on an abbey, or autonomous.
Ecoinçon : a triangular curve between two juxtaposed arches.
Rinceau : An undulating stem bearing stylised leaves.
Mandorle : an almond shaped halo, often surrounding Christ in religious art.
Ronde-bosse : a freestanding sculpture.
Claveau : a part of an arch.
Tore : a vault arch formed by claveaux.

Contact et renseignements

Prieuré de Serrabona
66130 BOULE D'AMONT - Tél : 04 68 84 09 30

Horaires d'ouverture Ouvert tous les jours de 10h à 18h Fermé le 01/01, 01/05, 01/11 et 25/12

Conseil Général des Pyrénées-Orientales 24, quai Sadi Carnot, 66009 - Perpignan Cedex - Tél. 04 68 85 85 85 Nous contacter Coordonnées