Above the village of Beuda towers a mountain. Sitting atop is a sanctuary, restaurant and library with stunning views of the Catalan countryside. Luckily I experienced nice puffy clouds and a fair sunset on this trip. Mare Déu del Mont’s altitude is up there in Catalan numbers, including the Pyrenees. The area has many extinct volcano cones throughout the landscape.
The great landscape photographer Ansel Adams said:
The negative is the equivalent of the composers score, and the print is the performance.
I have visited many churches and this one is stunning. The 14th century timber roof beams, graphic windows, and an organ to make the hairs on the back of your neck stand on end.
Fine buildings become special when the people who own, run and maintain them not only appreciate their wonder, but share it freely with others. It is staffed by friendly volunteers, knowledgeable in its construction and heritage. I visited this church many times and always received a warm welcome. If your are looking for discovery and enrichment while in Stirling, take an hour and make this part of your day. Judging by the visitors book, the rest of the world knows all about Stirling’s monumental little secret too.
This is my first Church Panorama taken near the Altar. Church of Holy Rude website here.