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Origin and history

The Church of the Trinity and Sainte-Marie de Prats-Balaguer is a Romanesque church located near the hamlet of Prats-Balaguer, in the commune of Fontpédrouse, in the department of the Pyrénées-Orientales. The present building dates from the 11th century, although it has undergone several modifications over the centuries, including the addition of side chapels and a sacristy in the 18th century. Its architecture is characterized by a unique nave of three irregular spans, a semi-circular apse arched in cul-de-four, and a western facade with a gate in the middle of the hanger topped by an oculus.

It is reinforced by foothills to the north and retains lumbar bands partially visible under a thick crepe. A square hatch tower, located between the second and third spans, has four bays in the middle of its top floor. Close to the church, a cemetery borders its southern flank. In 2012, the building was not protected under the Historic Monuments.

The interior of the church consists of a nave flanked by two chapels to the north and a chapel and the sacristy to the south. The last span serves as a chorus span. Despite the transformations, the church preserves architectural elements of the novels, such as the Lombardic bands and the structure of the abside, testimonies of its medieval origin.

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