Lombard Romanesque church of Sant Romà de les Bons, which overlooks the town of Encamp in Andorra on the southern side of the eastern Pyrenees. The church, consecrated in 1164, has a semi-circular apse with lesenes, a typical feature of Lombardic architecture.
Les Bons, in the Encamp parish, Andorra: Lombard Romanesque church of Sant Romà de les Bons, consecrated in 1164. It belongs to the historical ensemble of les Bons and towers over Encamp, a Pyrenean town on the Valira d’Oritent river. The church, dedicated to Saint Romanus, has a rectangular floor plan, double bellcote, and a semi-circular apse decorated with arches and lesenes, the latter being a typical feature of Lombardic architecture. Lesenes or pilaster strips are flat, vertical projections on an outer wall, usually without a base or capital. Andorra is a small, landlocked sovereign state on the southern side of the eastern Pyrenees, bordered by France to the north and east and by Spain to the south and west. According to legend, the foundation of Andorra is attributed to Charlemagne in 805 CE as a way of thanking local people for helping in the battle against the Saracen army. However, written sources indicate that by the mid-800s, Andorra’s parishes were one of the domains of the then Counts of Urgell. In the 1200s, Andorran territories were disputed by the Bishops of Urgell and the Count of Foix. At the end of the century, shared sovereignty and the Principality of Andorra were established. The first Andorran Constitution was passed in 1993, establishing parliamentary government. It then jointed the United Nations and Council of Europe. The French president and the Bishop of Urgell are still joint co-princes and heads of state, but the roles are honorary. The official language is Catalan and it has a population of approximately 77,000.
Size: 4256px × 2832px
Location: Sant Romà de les Bons, Encamp, Andorra
Photo credit: © Terence Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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