Well-preserved Roman cart ruts are visible to the naked eye on the Chemin du fer. There are also religious buildings dating from different periods, with varied architectural styles and traditions. Montauriol thus offers two different ways to explore: archaeological traces along a path and a layered history of architecture.
Roman Cart Ruts on the Chemin du fer
The Chemin du fer runs through Montauriol and Calmeilles. The most distinctive cart ruts are spaced 125 to 135 centimetres apart. This range applies to the most prominent sections; it is not a uniform measurement for the entire path. Along with their good preservation and visibility, this specific measurement makes the cart ruts a notable feature of the Chemin du fer.
The path is marked with white-and-yellow PR trail markings. Both the name Chemin du fer and the colours of the markings therefore serve as specific reference points for navigation.
Those interested in archaeological details will find more here than a general description: the traces are visible, and a precise distance is given for the most prominent sections. The figures should be understood as a range, not as a single measurement for every spot. This preserves both the clarity of the evidence and the differences between the cart ruts.
Sacred Architecture from Several Periods
The Capella de Sant-Amanç is a Romanesque building from the 12th century. Inside, it has a granite holy-water font. Every year on Saint John’s Day, a priest blesses herbs there. The building’s age, material and recurring custom offer different perspectives on this chapel: alongside its Romanesque form are a specific furnishing detail and an annual local tradition.
The Chapelle Santa Maria del Mas d'en Costa was rebuilt around 1850 in the Neo-Romanesque style as a family necropolis. The approximate date refers to the rebuilding, not simply to the building’s original construction. Here, the chapel’s style, period and purpose together form its architectural history; the date of around 1850 should therefore be understood as the timeframe for this rebuilding.
The Église Saint-Saturnin in Montauriol is a pre-Romanesque church from the 10th century and was already in existence in 1074. This date indicates that it existed at that time, not a second construction date. Its floor plan also sets it apart: the church has a single rectangular nave divided transversely by a double arch, as well as an especially deep semicircular apse.
The nave is the elongated main space of a church; the apse forms its semicircular end. Saint-Saturnin’s architecture can therefore not be described by its age alone: the single rectangular space, its division by the double arch and the deep apse give the building its own distinctive character. Its pre-Romanesque classification and its existence in 1074 add a historical perspective to these spatial features.
The architectural landmarks differ considerably: Saint-Saturnin stands out for its early date and distinctive spatial layout; the Capella de Sant-Amanç for its Romanesque form, granite font and recurring tradition; and the Chapelle Santa Maria for its Neo-Romanesque rebuilding around 1850. If you choose Montauriol based on your interests, these differences can help you decide whether to focus on architecture, furnishings, archaeological traces or religious customs.
Discover more destinations: Torreilles-Plage, Perpignan, Corbère, Argeles-Sur-Mer, Ayguatébia-Talau, Jujols, Corneilla-Del-Vercol, La Cabanasse.
For the main travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.
