Chapelle Saint-Jérôme, Argelès-sur-Mer
Overlooking the plain of Roussillon, the Chapel Saint-Jérôme (Xth century) is located near the hermitage Notre-Dame-de-Vie of Argelès. This tiny pre-Romanesque (Carolingian) chapel is composed of a rectangular nave ending in a cul-de-four apse. The west facade is topped by a bell tower with a single arch. It is frequented by walkers and pilgrims who appreciate the calm that the church radiates, and they traditionally deposit small papers carrying their prayers.
About this building
The Saint Jerome Chapel is a tenth century chapel located in the immediate vicinity of the hermitage of Our Lady of Life in Argelès and can be found on the flanks of the massive Albères Mountain, overlooking the plain of Roussillon. They are attached to the Bishopric of Perpignan.
The tiny pre-Romanesque (Carolingian) chapel consists of a rectangular nave vaulted into a cradle, ending with a vaulted apse in a cul-de-four. The west facade is surmounted by a bell tower with a single arch. The walls are of granite rubble roughly squared with stone corner chains, placed directly on the rock. Near the apse are fragments of medieval mural paintings. It has been used, until recently, as a sheepfold and practice that is believed to have started during the French Revolution.
The site, open to the public, is surrounded by a Mediterranean forest in which dominate cork oaks and holm oaks. It is accessible by a road and along a gravel road. The chapel is frequented by walkers and pilgrims who appreciate the calm that emerges and traditionally deposit small papers carrying their prayers.
