The best walks and hikes around Coustouges

Sant Cristòfol dels Horts is a church in the municipality of Els Horts, in the municipality of Albanyà, included in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia. It has been partially restored by the GAT of La Jonquera in recent times. The church of Sant Cristòfol dels Horts is very ruined. It consists of a single nave topped to the east by a semicircular apse. It presents construction elements from different periods. The western half, which seems to be the oldest, is the most damaged and has suffered various interventions. The rest of the nave preserves the vault, while the apse has a ruined roof and also part of the walls. The side walls are reinforced by buttresses on a slope. The differences in the construction system highlight the different periods in which the walls were built. In the western sector of the nave it presents a system of small ashlars of travertine limestone that corresponds to a late reconstruction. Little of the southern side wall has been preserved. The north wall has been well preserved and is covered by a slightly pointed vault. The structure is made of small ashlars and broken limestone slabs and could date from the 11th century. The rest of the church, the eastern section of the nave and the apse, was built with large, well-squared ashlars arranged in uniform rows, at an angle. This construction is typical of the late Romanesque period, 12th or 13th centuries. The apse opened onto the nave by a simple pointed arch and had an almond-shaped vault, which has not been preserved. On the southern wall there is a double-slanted semicircular arch window. At the bottom of the apse there were two that have disappeared. Sant Cristòfol dels Horts is the church of a scattered village of farmhouses, currently abandoned, located at the northern end of the municipality of Albanyà. The place of Horts is mentioned in the royal precept, favorable to Santa Maria d'Arles, of the year 878, in relation to some lands that were to belong to Sant Pere d'Albanyà. The parish does not appear mentioned until the year 954. The parish of Sant Cristòfol dels Horts depended, in the post-medieval period, on the churches of Fontfreda, Carbonils, els Vilars, Oliveda and the Sanctuary of Santa Maria del Fau. Source: https://ca.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sant_Crist%C3%B2fol_dels_Horts

Very beautiful church. The first name Laurenz is common in my family.

The Church of San Lorenzo is a construction dating back to medieval times, and like many churches in the region, it has been modified and restored over the centuries. It is a reflection of the Romanesque and later Baroque influence, with several renovations carried out to maintain its structure and functionality. San Lorenzo is the patron saint of the town, which gives him a central role in the religious life of the community. The feast of San Lorenzo, celebrated on August 10, is one of the most important events in the town.

The origins of the village date back to medieval times, and like many towns in the Pyrénées-Orientales, Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans has historically been influenced by French and Catalan cultures. The Vallespir region has historically been a place of passage and trade between both sides of the border. Throughout the 19th century, the village experienced a boom due to its traditional industries, especially the manufacture of espardenyes (espadrilles) and cotton fabrics. These industries played an important role in the growth of the village and its regional recognition.

According to the most recent data, the population of Saint-Laurent-de-Cerdans is approximately 1,200 inhabitants. Although there has been a decline in population in recent decades, the village remains one of the most important rural centres in the region, especially for its artisan tradition.

Place not to be missed

Oak (Quercus ilex) next to the fountain of the old Bac hostel. Characteristics: This specimen has a barrel circumference of 3.30 m, the trunk is very rounded at the base, it is 6.30 meters in circumference and the maximum diameter is 1.20 m. The head is 15 m and rises up to 16 m. The spring that is next to the tree provides it with the necessary moisture for its growth. The trunk of the oak appears to be a regrowth from an older trunk. Condition: The trunk is bulging, it can be deduced that this tree has suffered from a lack of soil and the roots have had to make their way through the pumice stone. Suggestions: Very close to the source and this tree are the remains of L'hostal del Bac (17th century), frequented by porters who followed the St. Llorenç de Cerdans in Figueres.

The Teix del Fau (Taxus baccata) is a hundred-year-old specimen. The yew tree is a very slow-growing tree with millennial longevity. Characteristics: This specimen has a twisted trunk of a reddish color, it is about 2.60 m round and 8 meters high. The appearance of the tree is sudden and shows its velvety with a bark that is paraded. The diameter is 85 cm and the top, green and dense, is 7.50 m. Status: It is in a healthy state and, with so many years, its seeds have spread over the lap of the Fau, where many of its saplings are slowly growing. Suggestions: It should be borne in mind that both the roots and the leaves and branches contain a substance called taxine which is very poisonous.