Église Notre-Dame-des-Oubiels, Historic church ruins in Portel-des-Corbières, France.
Église Notre-Dame-des-Oubiels is a medieval church ruin located about one kilometer west of Portel-des-Corbières, where stone walls display a pentagonal apse, chapel sections, and a bell tower. The site is accessible through marked pathways and falls within the boundaries of the Narbonnaise Mediterranean Regional Nature Park.
Construction began in 1285 and continued until 1310, supported by Charles II of Sicily, making this a work of the Gothic period. The site received official protection as a classified historical monument in 1973 by French authorities.
The name Oubiels comes from the word for lambs and appears in a sculptured detail within the choir vault. This connection reflects how deeply the church was tied to sheep farming, which shaped daily life throughout the region.
Access to the ruins is through marked trails that lead from the village into the protected nature reserve. The visit requires no special arrangements and can be made in any season, though the nature park office provides additional information for those wanting more context.
The sanctuary contained a double piscina within one of its two niches, an uncommon feature in medieval French churches that shows special attention to liturgical detail. This paired basin arrangement was built with care to support specific ritual practices of the time.
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