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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of the Nativity of Our Lady, also known as the Church of St Mary, is a religious building located in Baixas, in the Eastern Pyrenees. Its foundation dates back to the 12th century, with a partially preserved Romanesque structure. The early nave, originally covered with a frame, was transformed in the 14th century by the addition of stone vaults. The lateral chapels, pierced in the dropural walls, probably date back to the 18th century, as evidenced by an engraved date (1768) on an archvolt. The bell tower, typical of the Lombard style with its arches and outer strips, also dates from the 12th century, with the exception of its upper floor open with geminied bays.

The monument houses remarkable furniture, including a 17th century altarpiece classified as a Historical Monument, composed of sculptures and bas-reliefs depicting biblical scenes (Nativity, Visitation, Crucifixion). This altarpiece, studied by historians such as Georges Dorso, illustrates Catalan Baroque art. The church was classified by ministerial decree in 1982, recognizing its heritage value. Its architecture thus combines Romanesque elements (clocher, nave initial), Gothics (fourteenth century vaults) and Baroques (table, side chapels), reflecting the stylistic and liturgical evolutions of the region.

Historical sources, such as the records of the Ministry of Culture (Mérimée base) or the works of Géraldine Mallet, underline her role in the religious heritage of Roussillon. The bells, dating from the 17th and 18th centuries (1675, 1697, 1809), recall its anchoring in local community life. The building, owned by the commune, remains a testament to the architectural and artistic traditions of medieval and modern Occitanie.

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