The Romanesque ruins of Sant Martí de les Canals

Located in an enclave of the municipality of Montmajor in the Berguedà region, Sant Martí de les Canals de Catllarí is a Romanesque church. This protected monument is part of the Catalan Architectural Heritage. The building features a single nave and a semi-circular apse on the east side.

The structure shows two distinct construction stages. The nave was built in the 11th century, while the choir area dates to the 12th century. The apse is covered with a slightly pointed vault and features a small semi-circular arch window made of ashlar. The entrance was located in the south, while a bell tower with two wide openings sits on the west wall. The roof of the nave is now completely ruined.

The history of the site is documented as Castaerill in 1269 and Castlaryl in 1307, before the name Catllarí appeared in the early 18th century. The church served as a sufragian of Sant Iscle de l'Aiguadora, though it was formerly a parish. In 1374, the church was consecrated again by the vicar of the abbot of the monastery of Gerri de la Sal.

During the 19th century, the church underwent further changes. In 1847, it was renovated regarding its decoration, and by 1855, a retable by Pujol de Sant Llorenç de Morunys was installed in front of the apse, which then became a sacristy. At this time, the choir and a rose window were built on the west wall, replacing the previous structure.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons