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Perpignan,
discovery of the city |
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PALAIS
DES ROIS DE MAJORQUE
Situated in the middle of the citadel, it is the most important
monument of Perpignan and one of the most remarkable evidence of
the medieval civil and military architecture of the South of France.
It
was built in 1276 to accomodate the court of Jacques 1er of Majorque.
The last important works were done by the Kings of Aragon.
It is presently being restored. One can, from now on visit the main
courtyard with its beautiful group of gothic buildings, the large
facade displaying elegant ogival arches. In the center of this facade,
a dungeon houses two chapels :
- the lower chapel, known as the Chappelle de la Reine (rosace,
remains of paintings)
- the higher chapel, so called Sainte- Croix, or Chappelle Royale—very
beautiful rose marbled portal with sculpted columns (around 1300).
Its unique nave marked with ogival high windows holds unusual remains
of ancient paintings.
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THE
CASTILLET-CASA PAIRAL
At the junction of the new city and the old city, this charming
brick castle which first served as the city gate, then as a prison,
had its principal part constructed in the 14th century. The rose
dome of its pinnacle gives it a look almost Oriental and original
in the French military architecture. For a few years now, it houses
the museum of Popular Arts and Traditions of the Roussillon region,
named the "Casa Pairal". From its terrace, is a very beautiful
view of the city, the plains of Roussilllon, the sea, the Corbières
and the neighbouring Pyrénées from which detaches
the imposing mass of Canigou.
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THE
" LOGE DE MER"
It was sometime ago a produce exchange and the seat of the "juridiction
Consulaire" or the "Sea Consulate". Its constrution
started in 1397.
This
rectangular building has all the frequent characteristics of a flamboyant
Gothic.The broad picture windows at the ground floor, the beautiful
windows with their finely sculpted tracery, give it a quivering
and exotic grace.
It calls to mind Venice and the Italian Palaces, but these works
originate from the artistic school which existed in Barcelona during
the Middle Ages.
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THE CITY HALL
Constructed in several stages, in the 13th, the 16th and the 17th
centuries, its facade with broad wrought iron doors is typical of
local Roussillon architecture.
Set
up in the 16th century, the patio of mediterranean style, offers a
very nice site to one of the masterpiece of Maillol, "le bronze
de la méditerranée".
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SAINT JACQUES CHURCH
Constructed in two parts, in the 14th and the18th centuries, it has
two apses. Its unique nave accomodates beautiful Catalan style retable.
A porch dating from the 14th century, a beautiful garden of the old
fortress "Bastion Saint-Jacques. This church is the departure
point, on Holy Friday, of a remarkable procession similar to that
of the Holy Week in Séville. The protocol of this procession
has been organized since the 15th century by the ancient brotherhood
of Sanch (Confrérie de la Sanch) whose traditions and existence
have been carried on up to our times. |
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SAINT JEAN CATHEDRALE
Constructed
as of 1324 on an original plan of a church with three naves, it was
finished with only one nave in 1433. The collegiate church Saint-
Jean constructed in 1509 was erected as a Cathedral in 1601. |
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