Latour-Bas-Elne offers two distinct ways to plan your trip: the architectural and religious history surrounding the Église Saint-Jacques, and the Boucle du Pilou, a cycling route through the village and natural areas near Saint-Cyprien. This lets you focus either on architecture and religious traditions or on a cycling tour. The Cellera de Latour also has its own connection to the history of the village.
Church, Cellera and patron saint’s feast
The Église Saint-Jacques is a single-nave church with a semicircular Romanesque apse and a window with inwardly sloping reveals on both sides. “Single-nave” describes a building with one nave; the apse is the semicircular section. The sloping window reveals are a distinct architectural detail. Together, these identify three features: the ground plan, the apse and the distinctive design of the window.
Construction of the Église Saint-Jacques began in the 12th century, replacing an earlier church of Saint-Jacques, which has been documented since 945. The Cellera de Latour, a protected area, lies around the church. It originally included a fortified tower, mentioned as early as the 10th century, which gave the village its name. The dates refer to different events: the first church is documented from 945, construction of the Église Saint-Jacques began in the 12th century, and the fortified tower is mentioned from the 10th century.
On 25 July, the feast day of the patron saint, Saint-Jacques, a Mass is celebrated in the church, accompanied by a Catalan cobla ensemble and the singing of goigs. For planning your visit, 25 July is the specific date to bear in mind for this celebration. Separate from this is the annual loan of the relics of Saint-Jacques, which the Cathedral of Elne lends for veneration. Both the celebration, with its musical and vocal elements, and the veneration of the relics are part of the village’s religious tradition.
The cadireta is now displayed on the curved altar in the chapel of the Virgin Mary. Before visiting, check whether it is still on display there.
Cycling the Boucle du Pilou
The Boucle du Pilou is a cycling route through Latour-Bas-Elne and natural areas near Saint-Cyprien. It starts and ends at the Stade de Latour-Bas-Elne on Avenue Pierre-Camps. The same location is therefore both the start and the finish. Before setting off, it is advisable to check the route details and find out about parking and signage at the starting point. The route combines a stretch through the village with natural areas near Saint-Cyprien, offering a different travel focus from the architectural and religious history surrounding the Église Saint-Jacques.
Discover more destinations: Passa, Vingrau, Rodes, Toulouges, Villelongue-dels-Monts, Millas, Cabestany, Oms
For the broader travel overview: Pyrénées-Orientales.
