In the Boulès valley, At the heart of a holm oak forest in the commune of Boule-d'Amont, stands an early 11th-century Romanesque priory. Nestling in a wild, green natural setting, the priory of St Mary of Serrabona (Sainte-Marie de Serrabona) is worth going out of your way to see, as much for its magnificent site as its remarkable artistic heritage.
Once inside the church, admire the splendid pink marble rostrum and the sculpted capitals. These are adorned by floral motifs, angels and animals, and are a superb example of the Romanesque art of Roussillon...As well as the treasure of this Romanesque sculpture, you'll find another gem: the south gallery of the cloister, with archways opening on to a beautiful area of greenery.
A delightful botanic garden surrounds the priory, full of Mediterranean plants.
The name of the monastery derives from the Catalan "serra bona", meaning "good mountain". The original foundation - of which order if any is unclear - on the site took place in the 10th or 11th century and is recorded in a document of 1069. In 1082, under the patronage of the local lords and the Count of Conflent, who gave it property and revenues, it was re-established as an Augustinian priory.
An extensive transformation took place in the 12th century. A transept and three apses replaced the earlier chevet. The principal apse, protruding on the exterior, is flanked by two absidoles enclosed in the walls. On the north side there is a second nave and a bell tower, on the south side a cloister, and another building containing three rooms.
The thick walls of the nave are built of local schist rubble stone. The second construction was more elaborate and used large blocks of cut schist which were carefully placed.
The sculptures in the cloister, the main portal, the window in the apsidole and the gallery, are all worked in pink marble from the Conflent, which makes a startling contrast to the green-grey of the schist.
In French but some gorgeous aerial video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNP3wPPqL6c
