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Origin and history

The chapel Saint-Laurent-du-Mont d'Argelès-sur-Mer, also called Sant Llorenç del Munt in Catalan, is a Romanesque sanctuary erected in the 12th century on the Massane massif, at about 300 meters above sea level. It overlooks the valley of the Rec de l'Abat, a tributary of the Massane, and is located south of Valmy Castle. Its Catalan name, del Munt ("du Mont"), emphasizes its dominant position over the municipality. The place is mentioned from 981 under the name Cella Sancti Laurentii, in an act of King Lothaire confirming its possession by the Benedictine Abbey of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines. A second mention in 1278 (Sancti Laurencii de Monte in Loco Rauaner) evokes its connection to the valley of the Ravaner, a ravinated site.

The present church, built in the 12th century, was consecrated on 8 May 1164 by the bishop of Elne Artal III. Unlike many Romanesque buildings, it does not present any distinct construction phase or major reshuffles, thus providing a homogeneous example of the religious architecture of the time. Originally, it was the centre of a parish, but lost this status with the disappearance of the nearby parish of Saint Peter around the seventeenth century. However, it remained used occasionally, especially at its employers' party on 10 August, and was restored in the 1990s by local volunteers.

Ranked a historic monument in 1994, the chapel is characterized by a unique nave of 21 meters long and 9 meters wide, extended by a semicircular apse. Built of local granite, it features steep windows and a bedside adorned with Lombard arches, gear teeth and a throat cornice. Inside, the nave is vaulted with a slightly broken cradle, while the choir is covered with a cul-de-four. The bell tower, now partially extinct, was composed of three rectangular pillars. The building was sold as a national property during the Revolution, after having belonged to the Abbey of Saint-Genis-des-Fontaines since the 10th century.

The site is inseparable from the medieval history of Roussillon, marked by the influence of Benedictine abbeys and local lords. The Ravaner valley, mentioned in 981 under the name rivo Rafanario, once housed the parish of Saint-Pierre-de-la-Cellera (or Sant Pere dels Forquets), whose centre was near the current Mas Consul. The chapel Saint-Laurent, although disused as a parish, retained a cultural and symbolic role for the Argelesian community, as evidenced by its recent restorations.

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