Boule-d'Amont: Romanesque Art and the Aspres

Boule-d'Amont lies in the Massif des Aspres, a continental ZNIEFF type 2 area of identified faunal and floral interest. A departmental road runs alongside the village and winds along the local Boulès River. Romanesque architecture, local history and landscapes offer different points of interest to consider when planning a trip.

Romanesque Heritage at Serrabona

Founded in the 11th century, the Prieuré de Serrabona is a masterpiece of Romanesque art. Its striking details include a finely sculpted marble gallery, a cloister and capitals featuring fantastical animals. The architecture is expressed both in the layout of the complex and in individual sculpted elements.

Restored since the 1960s, the priory now overlooks a vast protected natural area. The priory includes a Mediterranean garden and a landscape of forests and holm oaks. The Romanesque buildings and the surrounding Mediterranean landscape are thus distinct aspects of the site.

The Prieuré de Serrabona is reached via the RD 618 and then the RD 84. In the event of exceptional fire danger, the RD 84 may be closed by prefectural decree. Check that the road is currently open before setting out.

Churches and Local History

The Église Saint-Saturnin has a single-nave building and a semicircular apse, decorated on the outside with arcades on pilaster strips. The west portal has a door with iron fittings, attached with round-headed nails. The furnishings include five painted and gilded wooden altarpieces from the first decades of the 18th century, as well as artworks in the church treasury. The building’s form, portal craftsmanship and religious art each offer their own historical and artistic details.

The Chapelle Saint Jean d'Arsus has been mentioned since the 11th century and was under the authority of the Prieuré de Serrabona until the 14th century. It later became the parish church. In the 15th and 16th centuries, the chapel was abandoned as residents preferred the village of Boule-d'Amont. It is built of schist and has an iron door from Canigou. Its history thus spans its affiliation with the priory, its later role as a parish church and the eventual abandonment of the chapel.

The village houses also contribute to its architectural character: most are made of unrendered stone, and some façades feature colourful Catalan shutters. Together with the schist of the chapel, they create a tangible picture of different stone surfaces and façade details, without all the houses having the same design.

Trails and Landscapes of the Aspres

There are numerous hiking and cycling trails in the Aspres around Boule-d'Amont, frequently used for mountain biking and walks. One named circular route is the Tour de Santa Anna, a difficult trail covering 49.4 kilometres and taking 18:20 hours. Its distance, duration and difficulty level provide concrete points of reference for estimating how much time to allow for this circular route.

The Tour de Santa Anna showcases the richness of the Aspres’ landscapes and flora, at the transition between high mountains and plain. Its panoramas include the Mediterranean at the edge of the Roussillon plain, Canigou and the surrounding ridgelines. The route passes through Mediterranean forests made up mostly of deciduous trees such as holm oaks, chestnuts and ash trees. The same tour therefore brings together a variety of landscapes: forests, ridgelines and views of the sea and plain.

Regional Produce

From April to December, GAEC Cabra de Serrabona makes raw-milk goat’s cheese; the production period may vary from year to year. Visits and on-site sales are available by prior appointment only. Arrange an appointment before you travel if you plan to visit or make a purchase.

Discover more destinations: Casteil, Pia, Passa, Pas De La Casa, Reynes, Montferrer, Baho, Saint-Hippolyte.

Go to the main travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.