Sant Pau, Fontclara facts for kids
Sant Pau de Fontclara is a very old church and former monastery located in the small village of Fontclara, in Catalonia, Spain. A monastery is a place where monks used to live and pray. This building was once part of a larger group of monasteries connected to Lagrasse Abbey. Today, it serves as a parish church, which means it's a church for the local community.
A Look at the Building's Design
Sant Pau de Fontclara was first built in the Romanesque style. This is an old way of building that uses strong, thick walls and round arches. Over time, more parts were added to the building, especially during the 16th and 17th centuries. For example, side chapels were built to make the church bigger.
What You See Outside
The church has a single main room, called a nave. The roof of the nave is shaped like a pointed arch, which is called a pointed vault. At one end of the church, there's a rounded section called a semicircular apse. You can see the year 1639 carved into the building. This tells us when some of the later work was finished. On the front of the church, there is a bell gable. This is a special wall at the top with two openings where bells would hang.
Art and Decorations Inside
Inside Sant Pau de Fontclara, you can still see some amazing old paintings. These murals are on the arch and in the apse. They have been kept safe in their original places for many years. There is also a special carved stone panel, called a bas relief, that shows Saint Paul. Other paintings inside the church also tell stories from the life of Saint Paul.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de San Pablo (Fontclara) para niños
