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Origin and history

The Saint-Marc de Caixas Church is a pre-Roman-style building located in the Pyrénées-Orientales department, on the slopes of Mount Helena. Its origins date back to at least the tenth century, with a rectangular apse characteristic of this period. The building was raised in the 11th century, then fortified a few centuries later, reflecting the architectural changes and defensive needs of the time.

A first church dedicated to Saint Cucufat (sant Cugat in Catalan) is attested in Caixas from 1020. Later, the monument is placed under the name of St Mark, although remains of the old dedication still remain today. In the 13th century, a new parish church was built about a kilometre away, near the present town hall. In 1271 it was mentioned as ecclesias S. Jacobi and Cucuphati de Quaxas, indicating a double dedication to St James and St Cucufat.

The architecture of St Mark's church reveals a typical preroman building, with a rectangular apse dated from the 10th century. Subsequent changes, such as the 11th century elevation and the fortifications added between the 12th and 14th centuries, illustrate its adaptation to the religious and military contexts of the time. These transformations demonstrate its importance in the region, both spiritually and strategically.

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