Sant Vicenç de Maià de Montcal church

Coming from Olot, we will reach Sant Vicenç de Maià de Montcal parish church taking the road to Besalú. Once in Besalú, we will have to take the N-260 in direction to Figueres, and, after three kilometres, we will have to turn left. You will see a sign at this point. Sant Vicenç de Maià de Montcal parish church is found between the comarques of Gironès and Alt Empordà. The first documented reference of it dates back to the year 978, when Miró Bonfill, count of Besalú and bishop of Girona, donated this parish church to Sant Pere de Besalú. Sant Vicenç de Maià de Montcal church has a rectangular floor and a semi-circular apse orientated to the east. On the east part of the noon wall there are elements of a later date. On the east façade, there is the main door, which has four gradation semi-circular arches, a lintel and a tympanum. A canopy goes all over the external arch.Along the perimeter of the apse there is a frieze supported by corbels, some of them decorated with vegetable motifs and human heads. Its rich ornamentation contrasts with the simplicity of the rest of the building. The church has two openings on the noon wall and another one in the middle of the apse, all of them double-sided. On the west wall, over the entrance door, there is a porthole, built at a later date. The entrance door of Sant Vicenç de Maià de Montcal church preserves a most curious bolt, since the sash is completely functional but it has the shape of the head of a snake. The church also has a quadrangular bell tower which was built after the Romanesque construction phase, although it made use of the original belfry.