Pyrenees Guide

In the heart of a well-known vineyard, the village of Baixas has retained the main part of its medieval walls. Fortified in the 14th century, the 4 gateways of the town are proof of the economic importance of Baixas at the time of the kingdom of Majorca.

The bell tower of the Canons of Elne: The seigneury of Baixas belonged to the cathedral chapter of Elne. The demographic pressure of the 13th century forced them to rebuild their Romanesque church from top to bottom as it had become too small to welcome the village population. In its present state, the building is topped by exposed framework on diaphragm arches. Only the west span has retained its vault with original intersecting ribs. A massive square bell tower, superbly decorated in the famous white marble flecked with blue from the village quarry dominates the town and vineyard in contrast. This quarry provided all the architectural luxuries of Perpignan - Castillet, St John's Cathedral, Town Hall, and the Palace of the Kings of Majorca. As costly as the reredos altar piece at Baixas. This is the translation of the Catalan proverb " ha tant costat com el retaule de Baixas ". It cost the enormous sum of 290 doubles d’or for the sculpture and 400 just for the gilding. The importance of the amounts clearly shows the financial success of the Baixas wine growers in 1672. The work, which is immense, is 17 metres high. Its author, Lluis Generes, was one of the most remarkable Baroque sculptors in the 17th century in the Catalan region. The gilder of the altar piece was Francesc Monader. The richness and ostentation of this huge façade in sculpture and gold stamped the imagination of the population, to the point of transforming its investment into a popular proverb.