Church of Nostra Senyora de Las Grades de Marcevol, Arboussols
Closed since the 1996 earthquake, this adorable church overlooks a beautiful landscape. The Nostra-Senyora-de-Las-Grades-de-Marcevol Church or Notre-Dame des Escaliers de Marcevol is a Romanesque (Lombardian) church built in the 11th century, with an unique nave and northern and western blind facades. The church features a southern facade dominated by a small steeple. A fortified wall added in the sixteenth century protects access to the church.
About this building
Nostra-Senyora-de-Las-Grades-de-Marcevol Church or Notre-Dame des Escaliers de Marcevol is a Romanesque (Lombard) church located in the hamlet of Marcevol, 200 m from the Marcevol Priory, in Occitan region.
Overlooking the Têt Valley, this small building was built in the 11th century and rests on a powerful bedrock. Nearby, you can see a dolmen and many remains of the Neolithic era.
With a single nave extended by a semi-circular chevet, pierced by a single window surmounted by a semicircular arch, the church has northern and western blind facades.
In various places one can see a decoration of Lombard bands composed of rubble laid on field. A fortified wall of dry stone, covered with hollow tiles has protected access to the church since the sixteenth century. The church was closed after the 1996 earthquake, but the church still retains it adorable character and overlooks a beautiful landscape.
It is said that the mother of the immediate successor of St. Peter, at the seat of the papacy, was buried in Marcevol according to the legend entitled "the miracle of flour".
