Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí
Encyclopedia
The Churches of the Vall de Boí are a set of nine Early Romanesque
churches declared World Heritage Site
by UNESCO
and located in the Vall de Boí
, in the Catalan
comarque
of Alta Ribagorça
(Province of Lleida).
declared World Heritage Site
s in 2000 to nine churches:
area. This activity was driven by both the academic interests of scholars, and by art dealers, whose only motives were financial gain. Between 1905 and 1909 the Board of the Museums of Barcelona printed faithful reproductions of these Pyrenean
frescoes, and the publication of these works unleashed a desire for their acquisition by museums and private collectors. By 1919 many intermediaries were involved in buying and selling these works, which went mostly to museums and private collections within the United States.
The Taüll
region became an exception to this trend, since the local population refused to allow the frescoes and other art works to leave their churches. This action was escalated to the level of the Commonwealth of Catalonia and to the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell
. Finally, it was agreed that the frescoes would be best kept in the National Museum of Catalan Art
(MNAC), secure from possible theft or unscrupulous transactions. A team of Italian restorers carried out the task of removing the paintings from the walls and, in some cases, replacing the works with in situ reproductions.
The Taüll Romanesque paintings preserved in MNAC have since become world famous. Interest by art academics and professionals has led to a systematic study of all other remaining Romanesque murals of the Vall de Boí area, and most of these are now in safe protection at MNAC in Barcelona and at the Museum of Vic
.
The church of Sant Climent de Taüll was consecrated the December 10, 1123 by the bishop of Roda. This is a church with three nave
s separated by cylindrical columns, topped by three semicircular apses. The roof, of two sheds, is built of wood. The building stands six-story bell tower
which despite being attached to the building, not an integral part thereof.
The main entrance is located on the south facade and is arch
ed. Inside the church there were many fresco
es of unknown author. The Pantocrator of the church, is now preserved in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
(MNAC), is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque art in Catalonia.
s. The bell tower is in the center of the nave. In its inside also were found many frescoes studied in 1907 by Josep Puig i Cadafalch
. Highlights the fresco representing the Saint Mary with the child on his lap and that is also shown in the MNAC.
It is also a church with three naves. Originally, the roof was made of wood but later was changed to a stone hedge. The bell tower, of clear-Lombard
style, is attached to the lateral nave located in the south. Only preserves two of its original story as the last leg of the bell tower was added later. Of the church preserves only the apse. It also has a notable a collection of paintings of the 12th century among which highlights those representing various mythical animals. The originals are in the MNAC while in the church it can see reproductions of these paintings.
in 1962. The building is a single nave with a semicircular apse. The outer side has a portico decorated with cylindrical columns. The bell tower, typical example of Lombard architecture of the Vall de Boí, is of six stories, with a total height of 23 meters. It is decorated with double windows that frame the arches. In the sacristy was found a 12th-century sculptural group known as El Davallament. The sculpture is preserved separately: one part is at the MNAC and one in the Episcopal Museum of Vic
.
. Its style and characteristics are very similar to those already mentioned. It has a single nave and a single apse and five-story bell tower has very few openings.
It is a small hermitage of simple architecture. The nave is covered with barrel vault and finished in a presbytery
, slightly higher than the rest of the nave. The entrance door is arched with voussoir
s. The hermitage is very dimly lit and only has a porthole in its head and small openings on the west facade.
.
Romanesque art
Romanesque art refers to the art of Western Europe from approximately 1000 AD to the rise of the Gothic style in the 13th century, or later, depending on region. The preceding period is increasingly known as the Pre-Romanesque...
churches declared World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
and located in the Vall de Boí
Vall de Boí
The Vall de Boí is a narrow, steep-sided valley and a small municipality in the province of Lleida, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, northern Spain. It lies in the northeastern corner of the comarca of Alta Ribagorça, on the edges of the Pyrenees...
, in the Catalan
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
comarque
Comarques of Catalonia
This is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
of Alta Ribagorça
Alta Ribagorça
Alta Ribagorça is one of the comarques of Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Pont de Suert. The highest peak is the Comaloformo in the massif of Bessiberri. Northeast of the region is the western part of the National Aiguas Tortas and Lake of San Mauricio...
(Province of Lleida).
World Heritage Site
UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
declared World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
s in 2000 to nine churches:
| Code | Name | Place | Coordenates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 988-001 | Sant Feliu de Barruera | Barruera | 42°30′17.2"N 0°48′13.1"E |
| 988-002 | Sant Joan de Boí | Boí Boi -People:* Paolo Boi , Italian chess player who beat the Pope* Big Boi, a rapper* Boi-1da, a Canadian hip hop producer-Places:* Sant Boi de Llobregat, a town near Barcelona, Spain* Boise Airport, an airport in the US state of Idaho-Organizations:... |
42°31′41.7"N 0°50′01.0"E |
| 988-003 | Santa Maria de Taüll | Taüll Taüll Taüll is a town in the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain. It is home to the church of Sant Climent de Taüll, an excellent example of Romanesque architecture.... |
42°31′01.4"N 0°51′03.4"E |
| 988-004 | Sant Climent de Taüll Sant Climent de Taüll Sant Climent de Taüll is a Roman Catholic church in the town of Taüll, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia. The church was dedicated in the year 1123.The church is one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture... |
Taüll | 42°30′59.6"N 0°50′59.4"E |
| 988-005 | Santa Maria de Cóll | Cóll Coll Coll is a small island, west of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. Coll is known for its sandy beaches, which rise to form large sand dunes, for its corncrakes, and for Breachacha Castle.-Geography and geology:... |
42°26′35.3"N 0°44′43.9"E |
| 988-006 | Santa Maria de Cardet | Cardet Cardet Cardet is a commune in the Gard department in southern France.-Population:... |
42°29′03.8"N 0°46′36.3"E |
| 988-007 | La Nativitat de Durro | Durro | 42°30′09.9"N 0°49′19.1"E |
| 988-008 | Sant Quirc de Durro | Durro | 42°30′08.6"N 0°49′25.3"E |
| 988-009 | Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall | Erill la Vall | 42°31′49.6"N 0°49′55.8"E |
History of the Frescoes of the Vall de Boí
During the early 20th century there was a major effort to study and catalog the Romanesque wall paintings in the churches of the Vall de BoíVall de Boí
The Vall de Boí is a narrow, steep-sided valley and a small municipality in the province of Lleida, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, northern Spain. It lies in the northeastern corner of the comarca of Alta Ribagorça, on the edges of the Pyrenees...
area. This activity was driven by both the academic interests of scholars, and by art dealers, whose only motives were financial gain. Between 1905 and 1909 the Board of the Museums of Barcelona printed faithful reproductions of these Pyrenean
Pyrenean
The term Pyrenean refers to things of or from the Pyrenees mountain range. See:*Pyrenees, the mountain range dividing France and Spain*Pyrenean Shepherd or Pyrenean Mountain Dog, dog breeds sometimes shortened to Pyrenean...
frescoes, and the publication of these works unleashed a desire for their acquisition by museums and private collectors. By 1919 many intermediaries were involved in buying and selling these works, which went mostly to museums and private collections within the United States.
The Taüll
Taüll
Taüll is a town in the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain. It is home to the church of Sant Climent de Taüll, an excellent example of Romanesque architecture....
region became an exception to this trend, since the local population refused to allow the frescoes and other art works to leave their churches. This action was escalated to the level of the Commonwealth of Catalonia and to the bishop of La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of Bishop of Urgell, one of the Andorra co-princes...
. Finally, it was agreed that the frescoes would be best kept in the National Museum of Catalan Art
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya , abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia. It is housed in the Palau Nacional, built for the 1929 World's Fair...
(MNAC), secure from possible theft or unscrupulous transactions. A team of Italian restorers carried out the task of removing the paintings from the walls and, in some cases, replacing the works with in situ reproductions.
The Taüll Romanesque paintings preserved in MNAC have since become world famous. Interest by art academics and professionals has led to a systematic study of all other remaining Romanesque murals of the Vall de Boí area, and most of these are now in safe protection at MNAC in Barcelona and at the Museum of Vic
Vic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
.
Sant Climent de Taüll
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
s separated by cylindrical columns, topped by three semicircular apses. The roof, of two sheds, is built of wood. The building stands six-story bell tower
Bell tower
A bell tower is a tower which contains one or more bells, or which is designed to hold bells, even if it has none. In the European tradition, such a tower most commonly serves as part of a church and contains church bells. When attached to a city hall or other civic building, especially in...
which despite being attached to the building, not an integral part thereof.
The main entrance is located on the south facade and is arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
ed. Inside the church there were many fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es of unknown author. The Pantocrator of the church, is now preserved in the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya
The Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya , abbreviated as MNAC, is a museum of Catalan visual art located in Barcelona, Catalonia. It is housed in the Palau Nacional, built for the 1929 World's Fair...
(MNAC), is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque art in Catalonia.
Santa Maria de Taüll
Also was consecrated in 1123 and worked as parish of the municipality of Taüll during the 18th century. Its structure is very similar to that of Sant Climent. Basilica floor plan, consists of three naves and three apseApse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
s. The bell tower is in the center of the nave. In its inside also were found many frescoes studied in 1907 by Josep Puig i Cadafalch
Josep Puig i Cadafalch
Josep Puig i Cadafalch was a Spanish Catalan Modernista architect who designed many significant buildings in Barcelona...
. Highlights the fresco representing the Saint Mary with the child on his lap and that is also shown in the MNAC.
Sant Joan de Boí
Lombard architecture
The term Lombard achitecture refers to the architecture of the Kingdom of the Lombards in Italy, which lasted from 568 to 774 and which was commissioned by Lombard king and dukes....
style, is attached to the lateral nave located in the south. Only preserves two of its original story as the last leg of the bell tower was added later. Of the church preserves only the apse. It also has a notable a collection of paintings of the 12th century among which highlights those representing various mythical animals. The originals are in the MNAC while in the church it can see reproductions of these paintings.
Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall
It was declared a monumento histórico artísticoBien de Interés Cultural
A Bien de Interés Cultural is a category of the Spanish heritage register. This category dates from 1985 when it replaced the former heritage category of Monumento nacional in order to extend protection to a wider range of cultural property...
in 1962. The building is a single nave with a semicircular apse. The outer side has a portico decorated with cylindrical columns. The bell tower, typical example of Lombard architecture of the Vall de Boí, is of six stories, with a total height of 23 meters. It is decorated with double windows that frame the arches. In the sacristy was found a 12th-century sculptural group known as El Davallament. The sculpture is preserved separately: one part is at the MNAC and one in the Episcopal Museum of Vic
Vic
Vic is the capital of the comarca of Osona, in the Barcelona Province, Catalonia, Spain. Vic's location, only 69 km far from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made it one of the most important towns in central Catalonia.-History:...
.
Sant Feliu de Barruera
First appears documented in the late 13th century but little is known of its history. Located in the municipality of Barruera, is a building with a single nave with a barrel vault. The nave is headed by a semicircular apse.La Nativitat de Durro
Situated at an altitude of 1,386 meters, in the small town of Durres, the church is documented for the first time in the 11th century when it belonged to the County of PallarsCounty of Pallars
The County of Pallars or Pallás was a de facto independent petty state, nominally within the Carolingian Empire and then West Francia during the ninth and tenth centuries, perhaps one of the Catalan counties, originally part of the Marca Hispanica in the ninth century...
. Its style and characteristics are very similar to those already mentioned. It has a single nave and a single apse and five-story bell tower has very few openings.
Sant Quirc de Durro
Presbytery (architecture)
The presbytery is the name for an area in a church building which is reserved for the clergy.In the oldest church it is separated by short walls, by small columns and pilasters in the Renaissance ones; it can also be raised, being reachable by a few steps, usually with railings....
, slightly higher than the rest of the nave. The entrance door is arched with voussoir
Voussoir
A voussoir is a wedge-shaped element, typically a stone, used in building an arch or vault.Although each unit in an arch or vault is a voussoir, two units are of distinct functional importance: the keystone and the springer. The keystone is the center stone or masonry unit at the apex of an arch. A...
s. The hermitage is very dimly lit and only has a porthole in its head and small openings on the west facade.
Santa Maria de Cardet
This is a church of small dimensions of a single nave covered with four sections of a groin vault. Being situated on a slope, the apse, of two floors, is at a higher level than the central nave. In the basement of the apse is a cryptCrypt
In architecture, a crypt is a stone chamber or vault beneath the floor of a burial vault possibly containing sarcophagi, coffins or relics....
.