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Origin and history

The church Saint-Pierre dels Forquets was a pre-Roman church in ruins located in Argelès-sur-Mer, in the department of the Pyrénées-Orientales. It belonged to the medieval village of Sant Pere dels Forquets, now extinct and absorbed by Argelès. This site, mentioned since 981 under the name of Sanctus Petrus juxta villam argelariam, was organized around a church, a cemetery and one (fortified enclosure), as well as mas (isolated farms).

The village and its church were given to the Abbey of Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines from the 10th century. In 1172, Girard II, the last hereditary count of Roussillon, confirmed this donation in his will, describing the site as a cultivated land of Pujols and a valley of Saint Peter. These texts attest to its agricultural and religious importance in the Middle Ages.

Today, remains of the village and church remain, including a sandstone baptismal tank and white marble blocks of Ceret. A watch tower, partially visible, also suggests a defensive role. The ruins would be south of Argeles-sur-Mer, near coordinates 42° 31′ 15′′ N, 3° 01′ 24′′ E. Nearby, a dolmen bears the same name, Sant Pere dels Forquets, highlighting the former occupation of the place.

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