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Origin and history

The church of Saint Michael of Riunoguès, mentioned as early as 974 in a text by Pope Benedict VI, belonged to the abbey of Sant Pere de Rodes. This possession was confirmed in 982 by King Lothaire and in 990 by Pope John XV. Although its exact date of construction remains unknown, it may go back to the tenth or even ninth century. Its initial architecture, typical of rural preroman churches, included a unique rectangular nave extended by a trapezoidal flat bedside, with a later walled arched door.

The building has undergone modifications over the centuries, including the destruction of its original bell tower (possibly replaced in the seventeenth century by a two-bay bell tower on the west facade). The primitive gate, characteristic of pre-Roman art, was condemned, and a new entrance was pierced to the west. The church, still a place of worship in the 21st century, houses a altarpiece dedicated to Saint Michael and remarkable baptismal fonts. It has been a historic monument since 1989.

Local tradition, described by historian Pierre Vidal in 1899, combines the church with the feast of Saint Michael (29 September). This celebration includes the distribution of rye buns to foreigners, a custom maintained after a devastating hail, interpreted as a divine punishment, struck the village following an attempt to abandon this practice. The church remains an identity symbol for the community, as evidenced by the funerals of local figures, such as Marie-Louise Blangy in 2012.

Historical studies, such as those of Marie-Louise Blaggy or André Bordaneil, highlight her role in the Christianization of Vallespir. The liturgical furniture (restables, seigneurial bench) and the ministerial archives (Merimée base) attest to its rich heritage. The church thus illustrates the transition between the pre-Roman and Romanesque periods in French Catalonia.

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