Sant Pau, Fontclara facts for kids
Sant Pau de Fontclara is an old parish church and was once a Benedictine monastery (a place where monks live). It is located in the small village of Fontclara, in Catalonia, Spain. Long ago, it was connected to a larger monastery called Lagrasse Abbey in France.
The Church's Design and Art
Sant Pau de Fontclara was first built in a style called Romanesque, which was popular a very long time ago. Over the years, more parts were added to the building, especially in the 16th and 17th centuries. During this time, extra chapels were built on the sides of the church.
The church has one main hall, called a nave, with a pointed ceiling. At the end of the nave is a round part called a semicircular apse. You can see the year 1639 carved into the building, which shows when some of these changes were made.
On the front of the church, there is a special wall called a bell gable. It has two openings where bells would hang. Inside the church, you can still see some old paintings on the arch and in the apse. There is also a carved stone panel, known as a bas relief, which shows Saint Paul. Other paintings inside the church tell stories about Saint Paul's life.
