Located 1.5 km southeast of Roujan among fields and vineyards along the Chemin des Abournières, the Chapel of Saint-Nazaire de Roujan is a pre-Romanesque chapel that has stood witness to centuries of regional history. Constructed during the 9th and 10th centuries, this chapel, previously known as 'Église Saint-Nazaire d’Auberte', is one of several chapels scattered throughout the region, each a testament to the pre-Romanesque architecture of the region of Septimanie.
The earliest record of this chapel dates back to 1086. Its names have changed over time, gradually losing its original moniker. Local legends attribute it to the now-vanished hameau of Saint-Geniès. Classified as a historic monument since 1981, the Chapel of Saint-Nazaire de Roujan today stands – although in poor condition – as a surviving witness to centuries of regional history.
The chapel's design is typical of pre-Romanesque architecture: a single nave ending to the east with a square choir (characteristic of Wisigothic tradition, known as a 'closed choir', where the opening of the triumphal arch is narrower than the width of the nave).
The eastern wall features a solid south bay with a monolithic arch, and the southern façade showcases a Roman-style portal added later. The portal is composed of a door flanked by massive stone blocks and an arched top with clavels at the base that are narrower at the peak. The portal is protected by a massive outpassed arch, displaying the influence of the Wisigothic style. The southern façade also has a meurtrière-shaped window on the right of the Roman-style portal.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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