Elne - Cathedral

later Hannibal camped here (with his elephants) on his way to Italy. Within the 4th century it was named "Castrum Helenae" after the mother of Constantine the Great. Elne was a stronghold of the Visigoths, who founded the bishopric here in the 6th century. During the Middle Ages Elne, once the capital, lost its importance to nearby Perpignan, as the Counts of Roussillon moved their seat to Perpignan. In 1601 even the episcopal seat was transferred to Perpignan

So what is the parish church "Sainte-Julie-et-Sainte-Eulalie", is a the former cathedral built on a little hill. It replaced an older church and was consecrated in 1069.

During the Crusade of Aragon, a conflict between Philip III of France (aka "Philippe le Hardi") and Peter III of Aragon (aka "Pere el Gran"), the French armee conquered Elne, that was under the command of a knight named "Bastard of Roussillon". The population seeked shelter inside the cathedral. This ended in a masacre, as the church was set afire by the troops. Of course there was looting and plundering.

Next to the cathedral is the cloister, erected between 12th and 14th century, and believed to be one of the most important in Southern France. Some damages will date back to the Cruisade of Aragon, some to the Wars of Religions or the French Revolution, but still many carvings are "in situ" and in a good condition.

There is a surprising number of mermaids, mermen and sirenes in Elne, and I resist, to upload all of them. Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussillon roman", has noticed them too, but he cannot explain the great number.

I have the impression, that heads and faces of mermaids have had a strange attraction for vandals. Mermen had a better chance to stay unharmed.