Romanesque art, church history and the Aspres landscape give Boule-D'amont several distinct themes to explore. The Prieuré de Serrabona is a highlight of Romanesque sculpture; the Église Saint-Saturnin and the Chapelle Saint Jean d'Arsus reveal different chapters in the area's architectural and local history. For outdoor activities, there are walking and cycling trails, as well as the challenging Tour de Santa Anna. You can tailor your stay to your interest in architecture, history or a long circular route.
Finding your way around the village and the Aspres
A departmental road runs alongside Boule-D'amont and winds along the Boulès River. The village lies in the Massif des Aspres, a continental ZNIEFF type 2 natural area of recognised faunal and floral interest. The Aspres around Boule-D'amont offer numerous walking and cycling trails, which are also frequently used for mountain biking and strolls. In addition to the churches and the priory, there are several ways to explore the natural surroundings.
Prieuré de Serrabona: Romanesque art and landscape
Founded in the 11th century, the Prieuré de Serrabona is a masterpiece of Romanesque art. Its distinctive features include a finely sculpted marble gallery, a cloister and capitals depicting fantastic animals. Restored since the 1960s, the priory now overlooks a vast protected natural area. The grounds include a Mediterranean garden and a landscape of forests and holm oaks.
The priory is reached via the RD 618 and then the RD 84. In the event of exceptional fire risk, the RD 84 may be closed by prefectural order. Check current access conditions before setting out.
Churches, local history and houses
The Église Saint-Saturnin has a single-nave layout and a semicircular apse, decorated on the outside with arcades resting on pilaster strips. The west portal's door leaves have iron fittings secured with round-headed nails. The church's furnishings include five painted and gilded wooden altarpieces from the first decades of the 18th century, as well as works of art in the church treasury.
The Chapelle Saint Jean d'Arsus has been mentioned since the 11th century and was under the authority of the Prieuré de Serrabona until the 14th century. It later became the parish church; it was abandoned in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the residents preferred Boule-D'amont. The chapel is built of schist and has an iron door from Canigou. Its history adds the changing role of religious buildings in the village to their architectural details.
The houses also shape the village's appearance: most are built of bare stone, and some façades feature colourful Catalan shutters. These details offer a contrast to the stone religious buildings and are part of the village's visible architecture.
Tour de Santa Anna and the Aspres landscape
The Tour de Santa Anna is a challenging circular route in Boule-D'amont, covering 49.4 kilometres and taking 18 hours and 20 minutes. It showcases the landscape and floral richness of the Aspres, at the transition between the high mountains and the plain. The views include the Mediterranean at the edge of the Roussillon plain, Canigou and the surrounding ridgelines. The route passes through Mediterranean forests, made up mainly of deciduous trees such as holm oaks, chestnuts and ash trees.
If you would rather choose your activity than follow a defined circular route, there are numerous walking and cycling trails in the Aspres. These trails are also frequently used for mountain biking and strolls. The difference is in the format: the Tour de Santa Anna is described as a challenging, long circular route, while the other trails accommodate a range of uses.
Goat cheese by appointment
From April to December, GAEC Cabra de Serrabona makes goat cheese from raw milk; this seasonal period may vary from year to year. On-site sales and visits are available by prior appointment only. If you are planning a visit or a purchase, arrange a time with the farm in advance.
Discover more destinations: Saint-Estève, Ortaffa, Canohès, Canet-En-Roussillon, Vinça, Caixas, Clara, Enveitg.
For the broader travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.
