They tell a story

After being greeted, we enter the basilica. As soon as we arrive, Elena asked us to stop and observe the 2 vaults which coexist one after the other and constitute the impressive main body of the religious building.

The first, a small barrel vault located in the south Romanesque side, representative of Romanesque architecture, dates from the eleventh century. The second, of Gothic style, much higher, dates from the 13th century. It is made of stone and its configuration allows you to enjoy larger spaces that are bathed in light.

"This exceptional configuration is perfect to explain to both young and old the two great architecture styles present here in the Middle Ages," she explains.

"Follow me!" she tells us as if she were about to reveal a big secret.

We take a staircase opening out under the altar to a crypt from the eleventh century, filled in by monks in the thirteenth century and of which we see nothing at first sight. We have to give our eyes time to get used to it.

She then announces: "Here you are in a crypt that we discovered very recently, following the collapse of the vault, in 1974!" There is total surprise, the effect was successful!

"You can still see the spans that marked out the old plan of the building, present before the Romanesque church of the eleventh century". We are quite literally going back in time!

We climb back out of the crypt with Elena, who tells us that we are going to see "the basilica's last surprise".

We take the ambulatory to arrive on the north side, where our guide pushes open a heavy door.

We then access the Saint-Crespin chapel . "This chapel dates back to the 12th century and assumes an Arab-Byzantine style as can be found in some Spanish churches of the same period. This is a very surprising testimony!" she tells us.

The colours of the period create a truly zen atmosphere, enough to compete with some of the lush green areas just a few kilometres from here.