This week’s micro-adventure was to the small community of St. Genis des Fontaines. Specifically we went to see the 8th century Abbaye St. Genis des Fontaines, a Benedictine abbey which was part of the kingdom of Aragon when the Catalan people lived and ruled this area. Built between 778 and 780 AD it is dedicated to the martyr Saint Genis (303 AD).

This little abbey was destroyed by Norman looters in the 11th century and rebuilt throughout the medieval period, including architectural evolution of the 12th century church ceiling vault and the 13th century cloister construction.

In 1507 it was united with the larger Catalonian abbey of Montserrat, also a Benedictine abbey, near Barcelona. This alliance is what caused its decline in the 16th century during the French Wars of Religion. It became French governed under the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659, when the northern kingdom of Aragon was turned over to France.

Only seven monks remained when it was finally closed during the French Revolution. It remained empty until 1850, when the church became a village parish once more. The abbey and cloisters, sold off in 1924, were finally returned to the parish in 1995.

The abbey has lovely Roman origins and though some parts are still privately owned or still in need of restoration, we certainly found a lot to see in this small, but lovely, little abbey.

The entrance fee also included an art exposition. Most of the photos included in the expo had been taken in Cerbere and Port Vendres in France and Port Bou in Spain. We recognized them immediately and appreciated the artists unique angles having just done photos in this areas recently ourselves.

The town itself had only a handful of businesses, but we still managed to find a place to grab a cup on coffee while waiting for the abbey to open and lunch (mushroom, bacon and cheese quiche) at the little boulangerie as the restaurants were not yet open and we wanted a quick bite before heading home on the bus.

The photos below are mine, Alan posted his to Facebook!

The “main street” of St. Genis des Fontaines.

The local post office is in the lower left corner of this pretty house!

Brick gated-entry to an abandoned residence.

One of the town’s fountains.

Me trying to take a creative shot of the wall and street.

Loved the brick and wood in this lovely home on the main street.

Garden gate near the abbey

Me being creative again!

Interesting lock at the front gate

An old map in the tourist office

The last grape on the vine

Entryway into the art exposition hall on the second floor of the abbey’s cloister

Brick archway, second story of the cloister

Part of the photography expo

Part of the photography expo

Stone and metal scultpure

Part of the photography expo, Port Bou

Part of the photography expo

Part of the photography expo, Hotel Belvedere in Cerbere

Part of the photography expo

Photo of an old painted shield

Ceramic display

Modern stone and metal sculpture

The first hall of the expo

Another stone and metal sculture

First floor of the cloister

Multiple colored columns

Alan in the choir loft

The main alter of the church

The bishop’s chair

One of the nameplates on the pews

The nave of the church showing the 12th century barrel vault ceiling

Stairs to the choir loft

Holy water font on a 12th century column

Well and colonnades of the cloister

The capital of this column looks like a bird with the head of a T-Rex!

The Dolium, Roman origins, was discovered in the wine cellar of the abbey. Originally used to hold cereals and wines.

Alan at the end of the colonnade near the Dolium

The colonnade with columns of different marbles

Entranceway into the cloisters first floor

Alan near the front door of a house near the abbey, people were shorter when this place was built!

A village house that is for sale, super cute!