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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Sainte-Marie de Riquer church, located in Catllar in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is a Romanesque building dating back at least to the tenth century. Mentioned in pontifical bubbles from 968 and 1011 under the name eccl. B. Mariae, she then depended on Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa Abbey. At that time, it was a cella (small religious establishment) attached to the parish church Saint-André de Catllar, but its status evolved over the centuries, notably after a major reconstruction in the 11th century.

In the 11th century, a layman named Bernard financed the reconstruction of the church, causing a conflict with the monks of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa and the priests of Saint-André. The bishop of Elne divided in favour of the religious, thus maintaining the influence of Cuxa. The building was consecrated on 3 April 1073, a date marked by an act relating to this dispute. The church, of simple plan (unique nave and semicircular apse), is decorated with frescoes in the 12th century, including a Virgin with the Child in majesty discovered in 1955.

The church became a priory in the 15th century, while remaining under the care of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa. Ranked a historical monument in 1983 under the name of Notre-Dame-du-Riquier chapel, it preserves typical architectural elements, such as Lombard bands on the apse and a bell tower-wall. The medieval fresco, classified in 1954, illustrates its heritage importance. Little modified since 1073, it offers a rare testimony of the religious art of the Russillon.

Historical sources also highlight its link to Catalan heritage, as evidenced by its Occitan name Santa Maria de Riquer and its references in specialized works. Restorations, like the one of 1955, revealed hidden elements, confirming its continued role in local religious life for more than a millennium.

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