SAINT-MICHEL-DE-CUXA
. The present church of the Benedictine abbey of Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa (Pyrénées-
Orientales), founded in 878 at the foot of Mount Canigou in Roussillon, combines the
pre-Romanesque church of Abbot Garin (dedicated 974), characterized by distinctive
horseshoe arches, and the “first Romanesque” additions of Abbot Oliba (r. 1009–40):
rectangular ambulatory with three chapels, two magnificent Lombard bell towers (one
remains), and the centralized Trinity chapel (demolished 16th c.) above the unusual crypt
of the Virgin of the Manger (circular chapel with a vault of rough stone supported by a
massive central column).
Two major sculptural programs (elements of both later dispersed) were undertaken in
the 12th century: a large cloister (ca. 1130–40), with vigorously carved capitals, and a
richly ornamented marble tribune (ca. 1140–45). Two galleries of the cloister have been
recreated at Cuxa; reliefs from the tribune have been mounted around the north portal.
Other cloister capitals, as well as elements from the tribune, form the nucleus of the
Cloisters collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Contemporaneous with the tribune is the recently recovered commemorative relief of
Abbot Gregory (d. 1146), founder of the Cuxa cloister. Both Cuxa ateliers were
influential throughout the Roussillon (Serrabone ensemble, cloister of Espira de l’Agli,
portals of Villefranche-de-Conflent and Brouilla) and beyond the Pyrénées as well.
Jean M.French
Cazes, Daniel, and Marcel Durliat. “Découverte de l’effigie de l’abbé Grégoire créateur du cloître
de Saint-Michel de Cuxa.” Bulletin monumental 145(1987):7–14.
Durliat, Marcel. La sculpture romane en Roussillon. 3rd ed. Perpignan: Tramontane, 1959, Vol. 1.
——. Roussillon roman. 3rd ed. La Pierre-qui-vire: Zodiaque, 1975.
Ponsich, Pierre. “Chronologie et typologie des cloîtres romans roussillonais.” Cahiers de Saint-
Michel de Cuxa 7(1976): 75–97.
Simon, David. “Romanesque Sculpture in North American Collections. XXIV. The Metropolitan
Museum of Art. Part IV: Pyrenees.” Gesta 25(1986):245–76.
SAINT-NECTAIRE
. Built of local volcanic stone that harmonizes with the rugged landscape, Saint-Nectaire
(Puyde-Dôme) belongs to a distinctive group of Auvergnat Romanesque churches.
Contributing to its special character are the picturesque setting, the retention of the
original westwork, the substitution of columns for the characteristic nave piers, and the
richness of its sculptural ensemble. Striking are the sense of monumentality, despite its
relatively modest dimensions, and the purity of the interior volumes (no additions or
restorations). The towers of the heavily weathered façade are modern, as is the octagonal
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