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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Church of St. Marcel of Flassa, located in the hamlet of Flassa in Serdinya (Pyrénées-Orientales), is a Romanesque and pre-Romanesque building dating from the 11th century. Its architecture, marked by a unique nave and quadrangular bedside, reflects the characteristics of the churches of this period in Languedoc-Roussillon. The bedside, adorned with a Lombard arch with light tuft arches, presents an attempt at polychromy with red stones inserted in the hangers. A bell tower with two arches dominates the junction between the nave and the bedside, while murals (XVI or XVII century) decorate the choir.

The church was first mentioned in 1163, although its construction dates back to the 11th century. Originally, the nave was arched in a cradle on double arches, later replaced by a frame. The choir, separated from the nave by a diaphragm wall, preserves frescoes depicting rinceaux and clouds. Classified as a historic monument in 1987, this church reflects the architectural and artistic evolution of the region.

The site is located precisely in Flassa, near Serdinya, in a mountain setting typical of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Its state of conservation and decorative elements make it a remarkable example of the medieval Occitan religious heritage. The entrance door, in full arch with tuff clasps, and the architectural details of the bedside underline its historical and cultural importance.

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