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Origin and history

Sainte-Marie de Brouilla Church is a Romanesque building located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department in Occitanie. Its construction dates mainly back to the 12th century, with elements added to the 13th century. It is renowned for its atypical design, including its trilobed bedside, and its richly carved south portal in white Céret marble dating back to the late twelfth century. This portal, adorned with capitals of claws and lions, is related stylistically to that of the church of Saint-Jacques de Villefranche-de-Conflent and shows the influence of the workshops of Serrabone.

The first written mention of the building dates back to 959, but the present church was built in the 12th century. Its architecture includes a unique nave of five spans, arched in a cradle, and finished with a semicircular apse. Two semicircular side chapels, open to the right of the fifth span, give the bedside its trilobed shape. A bell tower, after the initial construction, overcomes the west gable. The entire building was classified as a historic monument on November 20, 1972.

The south gate, in white marble, is part of a protruding forebody of the southern facade. It is framed by two columns with carved capitals, supporting a tuning decorated with interlaces and rosettes. The left capital represents four claws, while the right one shows stylized lions. The tympanum and lintel, smooth, contrast with the richness of the surrounding sculptures. This portal is attributed by some historians to the same group of artisans who worked in Serrabone.

The church seems to be the result of two distinct construction campaigns. The walls, apse and apsidioles could date from before the 12th century, while the vaulting on doubles and the southern portal, added later, would mark a second phase. The bell tower-wall, visible by its different apparatus, would be a later addition. These architectural elements reflect the stylistic and technical evolutions of the Romanesque era in Roussillon.

Historical sources mention archaeological and architectural studies conducted by experts such as Marcel Durliat, who analysed in detail the structure and peculiarities of the building. The Church of Sainte-Marie de Brouilla thus illustrates the Romanesque heritage of Roussillon, mixing local and regional influences into a coherent and remarkable architectural ensemble.

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