Santa Maria de Taüll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Santa Maria de Taüll |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Location | |
| Location | Taüll, Catalonia, Spain |
 Location in Spain
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| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| Official name: Catalan Romanesque Churches of the Vall de Boí | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | ii, iv |
| Designated | 2000 (24th session) |
| Reference no. | 988 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Santa Maria de Taüll is a very old and beautiful church located in a valley called Vall de Boí in Catalonia, Spain. It is famous for its special old-style architecture called Romanesque. This church is so important that it is even recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site!
Contents
Discovering the History of Santa Maria
This church was built a very long time ago, around the 11th century. That is over 900 years ago! It was built at the same time as other famous churches in the area. These include Sant Climent, Sant Joan de Boí, and Santa Eulàlia d'Erill la Vall.
Santa Maria Becomes a World Heritage Site
In November 2000, Santa Maria de Taüll received a special honor. It was added to the UNESCO World Heritage list. This means it is considered very important for everyone in the world to protect. Eight other churches from the Vall de Boí area were also added to the list at the same time.
Exploring Romanesque Architecture
Santa Maria de Taüll is a great example of Romanesque architecture. This style was popular in Europe from about the 6th to the 13th centuries. Romanesque churches often have thick walls and round arches. They also have small windows, which made the buildings strong and cool.
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The back part of the church, called the Chevet
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The Apse, a rounded end of the church
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The Left Apse, another rounded section
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Inside the church, looking at the main area (Nave)
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The Reredos, a screen behind the altar
Amazing Wall Paintings
Inside Santa Maria de Taüll, there were once many colorful wall paintings. These paintings told stories from the Bible. They were made a very long time ago, when many people could not read. The paintings helped them learn about their faith.
Where to See the Original Art
Many of the original wall paintings from Santa Maria de Taüll are now kept safe. You can see them at the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya in Barcelona. This museum helps protect these important pieces of art for future generations.
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Original wall paintings, now in a museum
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A painting of Melchior, one of the Three Wise Men
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The Adoration of the Magi and Mary in the central apse
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Paintings of Gaspard and Balthazar, two more Wise Men
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A painting showing the Apostles
The Altar Frontal (Antependium)
An Antependium is a special cloth or panel that covers the front of an altar in a church. The one from Santa Maria de Taüll is a beautiful piece of art. It was used to decorate the altar during church services.
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The Antependium, or altar frontal, now in a museum
_Altar_frontal_from_Santa_Maria_de_Ta%C3%BCll_-_Museu_Nacional_d%27Art_de_Catalunya.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María de Tahull para niños
