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Origin and history

The church of Saint-Julien-et-Sainte-Basilisse de Torreilles, in the Pyrénées-Orientales, is a pre-Roman building whose first traces date back to the 10th century. Mentioned in 988 in an act of donation to the abbey of Saint-Michel de Cuxa, it illustrates the religious architecture of this period with its overpassed arches and its three initial naves. Its history is marked by its attachment, in the 11th century, to the collegiate Saint John of Perpignan as a prioral church.

In the 12th century, the building underwent remodelling, while a Gothic chapel was added to the north. Despite these changes, its pre-romane structure continued until 1912, when a radical restructuring transformed the three naves into one. Only the exterior walls, the three apse roman bedside and the bell tower – partially rebuilt – are preserved. The church, blessed in 1921, lost part of its medieval architectural heritage.

Today, the church is characterized by a unique nave covering the grip of the original Romanesque vessels, closed to the east by a semicircular bedside flanked by two walled apsidioles. The western bell tower, although remodeled, preserves traces of its Romanesque origin. The Gothic chapel, vaulted with warheads, remains on the north wall. The building, partially masked by adjacent buildings, bears witness to the architectural transformations that have taken place over the centuries.

The historical sources cite two reference works to deepen his study: Albert Cazes's Sacred Roussillon (1990) and the forgotten Romanesque Churches of the Roussillon de Géraldine Mallet (2003). This work underlines its importance in the Catalan religious heritage, between pre-Roman heritage and subsequent adaptations.

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