Chapelle Saint-Martin-de-Fenollar, Pre-Romanesque church in Maureillas-las-Illas, France.
Chapelle Saint-Martin-de-Fenollar is a pre-Romanesque church building from the early Middle Ages in Maureillas-las-Illas. The interior space is divided by a triumphal arch between the nave and choir, and the ceiling features stone vaulting reinforced by two transverse arches.
A written record from 844 shows that Charles the Bald confirmed the chapel as property of the Benedictine Abbey of Arles-sur-Tech. This documents the early connection between the site and a major monastic network in the region.
The interior walls display 12th-century religious frescoes in four layers, showing biblical scenes such as the Annunciation and Nativity. These painted images shape the feeling of the space and tell religious stories across the walls.
The chapel is open to visitors and guided tours are offered to explore the architecture and religious artworks inside. It helps to check ahead whether tours are available, as opening times can vary.
During the French Revolution, the chapel was converted into a storage facility for agricultural goods, and workers cut a door directly through a painted wall. This damage to the frescoes remains visible today and tells of a difficult time in the site's history.
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