THE CLOISTER AND THE CATHEDRAL OF ELNE
A Romanesque and Gothic cloister, built between the and centuries, considered one of the most beautiful in Europe.
The cathedral of Sainte-Eulalie-et-Sainte-Julie. Built in the 11th century, it is a basilica without transept, with three naves. Its crenellated façade is dominated by a square bell tower and a brick tower. One enters through an elegant marble portal, and inside, there is a nave with a semicircular vault and double arches. The difference in thickness between the top and the base of the pillars, as well as the presence of an additional archivolt, accentuate the impression of length of the building. The chapels of the south aisle house a recumbent, an alabaster pedestal and a painted wooden altarpiece dedicated to Saint Michael.
The cloister. Considered as one of the most beautiful in Europe, it is a rich witness of the medieval sculpture of Roussillon. Built between the 12th and 14th centuries, all in white marble with blue veins, it takes you through two eras, two styles: Romanesque and Gothic, with its Romanesque semi-circular arches and the extraordinary luxuriance of the motifs (fantastic animals, plants) of its capitals and pillars. Adjacent to the cathedral, it was intended for the canons. In the east gallery, the three marble sarcophagi are from the Visigothic period (6th and 7th centuries). A museum of archaeology within the cloister (Saint-Laurent chapel) presents vestiges coming from various sites of Elne, dating from the Neolithic to the Middle Ages. Located in the chapter house, there is also a history museum that bears witness to local history.
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