Saint-Génis-des-Fontaines - Abbey

Some Abbot Sentimir started to build an abbey here end of the 8th century. The abbey got looted and damaged by "heathens" (Marcel Durliat suspects Normans). From 981 on it was rebuilt by order of King Lothair of France, son of Louis IV of France (aka "Transmarinus"). The abbey slipped under the protection of the Counts of Roussillon and later of the Kings of Aragon. The church was enlarged and re-consecrated in 1153. Since 1088 the abbey was connected to Cluny in Burgundy.

The abbey existed upto the French Revolution. The abbey church serves as a parish church "Saint Michel" since 1846.

The relief of the white marble lintel over doors of the former abbey church depicts a theophany. For Doyen Marcel Durliat, author of "Roussilion roman", this relief marks the begin of Romanesque sculpturing within the Roussilion. Thanks to an inscription on that lintel (see previous uploads) it is known, that it was carved in 1019.

There are four corbels around the lintel, that are younger (12th century). This head of an ape or monkey is one of them. There are a few similar heads in the area of Roussillion. Note that the carver used a driller at the eyes.