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Origin and history

The priory of Marcevol, located in Arboussols in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is a Romanesque building dedicated to Saint Mary, built between the 11th and 12th centuries. It is the only dependence of the regular canonical order of the Holy Sepulchre in Roussillon, as evidenced by his donation in 1129 by the bishop of Elne. This priory, rebuilt after that date, was badly damaged by the 1428 earthquake, which ravaged much of Catalonia and affected monastic buildings.

In 1142, a will confirmed the ongoing reconstruction work, illustrating the importance of the site. After the earthquake of 1428, repairs were undertaken at the end of the 15th century, including the nave vault and the northern collateral. The order of the regular canons of the Holy Sepulchre, in decline, was dissolved by the pope in 1489, and the priory then passed under the administration of the priests of Vinça until the French Revolution.

Sold as a national good during the Revolution, the priory was transformed into a farm. The church, classified as a historic monument in 1840, was bought and restored from the 1970s. Today, it contains remarkable elements such as a monolithic bentier novel, a fresco of Christ in Majesty, and a partially collapsed asymmetrical wall bell tower. Conventual buildings, on the other hand, have almost entirely disappeared, with the exception of some remains like a wall of fortification of the 13th-XIVth centuries.

The priory of Marcevol is also known for its exceptional panorama on the Canigou massif and the Tet valley. The site, restored by a foundation, also preserves traces of its medieval past, such as Romanesque pentures on the portal and ravens supporting the roof of the cloister. Several movable objects, including elements of Gothic altarpiece, are referenced in the Palissy base.

The architecture of the church, organized in three ships, reflects successive reconstructions, especially after the earthquake of 1428. The northern collateral, rebuilt in 1496, was subdivided into communicating chapels, while the bedside only retains the southern apsidiole and the major apse. The western facade, sober and massive, is dominated by a wall bell tower with partially destroyed bays.

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