History of the Col de la Perche

The Col de la Perche is a history that dates back to the Romans!

Geology
If you see a geological map, it is unlikely that you will not find in the western Pyrenees a passage called "Col de la Perche" (alt. 1579 m). In fact, the Cerdanya’s plateau begins here. For thousands of years, crossing through the Pyrenees, means there must be a way. The Col de la Perche is the summit.

Roman road
The Romans had a way of coming Elne (in Roussillon): "Through Conflentana" (Conflent) and transformed into Col de la Perche "StratàCerdana" (way of Cerdagne). We see this road still above the neck to the Eyne.

The ninth century, the Jardo porde
In 897, a mandate of Pope Romanus confirms the rights of the Church of Elne, and said the stretching of the diocese "Jardo sea port." (The Jardo is the current that originates in the Perche). Another ancient text tells us most of the scene: "The three of the calends of November in the year 965, Seniofred, Earl of Cerdanya, Conflent and Vallespir, made a donation to the abbey of St. Mary of Arles (in Tech) of all that was "right in the mind" and the inheritance of his mother and his predecessors, in the territories of Forcats and Bolquera, ie the Ovansa Vilar, mansions Pujol (bass), the Vilar Caselles and part of Vilar Bolquère located on the left bank of the river of that name. "Vilar Ovansa concerns of the village of Les Moulins current. The Vilar de Caselles is the former name of what would become "The Shack" and "The Cabanasse". The Pujol Manses designate the Vilar de La Perche.

The name "Perch" only appears in 1095 in the will of Guillem-Raymond, Count of Cerdagne. He wants to establish a rescue home for travelers, attended by a religious order (at that time would be). In the twelfth century, a hospital birth. This is welcome pilgrims and travelers, feeding and sleeping, but also the necessary care. The first mention was made in 1174 by the Abbot of Saint-Michel de Cuxa Arbert. (The church is under the patronage of the Abbot of Cuxa while the hospital belonging to the abbey of Arles). The buildings consist of a church and an emergency at home. The property is governed by a "tutor" or "Commander" under his command to "Donats," ie, lay or clergy who gave all hands to the workhouse in whose service they were busy.

The pen name
The name "Perch" comes from the messages that have marked even in the nineteenth century the road to pass the pass in winter. In 1896, Bush still describes these messages: "On either side are planted poles painted black, designed to prevent passengers from being lost in the winter when snow levels in the campaign of his white jacket and thick. In Indeed, if one is unfortunate enough to overcome the left or right of the limits as directed by the Poles who are at risk of falling into a hole two or three meters of snow cover and hides in the eyes of all. These messages make their services in a real way. "

And the chapel of the Virgin Traveller
The chapel is under the patronage of the Virgin of travelers. The Romanesque carving disappeared, but the church of La Cabanasse contains the fifteenth. The statue was repainted in the nineteenth century, but its perfect state of preservation makes it a jewel of municipal assets. She had been placed in a niche in the chapel dedicated to the left of the church of La Cabanasse, but to prevent the theft, was placed above the door. There are also some other saints of the seventeenth from La Perche.

Life and Death of Hospital
The hospital of La Perche is enriched through the centuries by numerous donations and grazing rights offered by the neighboring lords. Thus, in 1272, Galcerand Pinos, Mr. Llo, grants to the prior of La Perche to graze cattle in the valley of Eyne. Herds could go Bouillouses and Quillane.
During the reign of Louis XI in 1462 in the hospital collapses and renovated in 1480. In 1557, the church is under the patronage of San Juan and is called the "convent of Santa Maria and San Juan." In 1672, the incomes of small hospitals in the province of Roussillon (now in French) are attached to the Royal Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and Saint Lazarus of Jerusalem by an edict of Louis XIV, but an agreement dated 2 November 1683 The perch allows the enjoyment of the property, although the decree also states that there are more sick. A text of 1693 outlining the ownership of these almshouses, said that "did not find any property or rent La Perche, a place that is barren and rocky." The hospital will disappear in 1696.

The ruins of the chapel and the new church
In 1807, Mr Delcasso Justice of the Peace in Mont-Louis and the owner of La Perche said: "the church of La Perche is completely destroyed: it remains only some ruins, part of the walls. The whole town is reduced three houses or farms, one of them belongs to me, Savior of the other Casso and the third of Joseph Rusca. long been the parish of La Perche is removed and since the new organization of municipalities, the place of The Perche joined the municipality of La Cabanasse. Neither I nor any of the other inhabitants of La Perche have no interest in preserving the ruins of the church, would be beneficial for all of us instead built a church rather than the Cabanasse where the inhabitants of La Perche are available for surrender. "
The ruins are on sale in 1807, but are still underway in 1848 for lack of buyers. Meanwhile, a house in the village of La Cabanasse, serves as an annex to the church of St Pierre dels Forcats. In 1806, the bishop of Carcassonne notes "that Mr. Chapel Delcasso qu'entretient in the grounds of his home in Cabanasse is not large enough to contain the people." And the parishioners of St. Peter "to the masses too often by their pastor there. The new large church, after many adventures, will not begin its work until 1876.

The Battle of La Perche
Note the highlight of the Col de la Perche: the battle for Dagoberto Fontenille General in 1793. Although this battle is not marked on the Arc de Triomphe in Paris (which could have!) Is the name of his hero in it.
While France is threatened by the Spanish who come from everywhere to regain their lost possessions (including the Treaty of the Pyrenees in 1659 to share), Perpignan has been identified, is attacked in Villefranche and Olette Conflent, Ariege is invaded by Puymorens and Col de la Perche became the advance troops. They are very early in April, but the snow (there was in abundance in this century) is the return to the walls of Puigcerdà. In July, Spanish is replaced in the western slopes of the Col, making fun of Mont-Louis. The French are preparing to return the response of the Citadel in 3000 fighting men.
On August 28, 1793, Dagoberto helped Cassanyes, hero of the Revolution, to the surprise of the night in the Spanish settlements of taking sides. A great battle was deter enemies from village to village in Puigcerda. This victory will give full value for the reconquest of Perpignan and Roussillon.

City of La Perche ?
Until the nineteenth century there is a differentiation between the city of La Perche Cabanasse and. This is a particular community, which has its own existence, with its territory, property, fees and charges clearly differentiated from those of common Bolquère of Forcats, airplanes, the Vilar de Ovansa and Mont-Louis. In 1616, the city of La Perche is called "San Juan de La Perche". For administrative statistics of 1695 for the communities of the French Cerdagne as heads of households: Philippe Fabre, pages, his wife and five children, Pubill Francisco and his wife, six children and two servants, the bridge of Joseph, or Nahuja 18 inhabitants. In 1787 there were in the parish of La Cabanasse 91 people, 19 in La Perche. It is found that the population of La Perche does not move, the pass has never been an expansion town, but any group of people who later formed an autonomous region.
It was only in the year VIII, ie in 1800, La Perche met in La Cabanasse, despite protests from residents who have Bolquère preferred. "The first Fructidor Year Villie Municipal Council of La Perche and La Cabanasse meeting under the chairmanship of Nodello citizen, mayor of the city, promises to be faithful to the new Constitution." Despite the marriage, the religious point of view the perch is attached to Bolquère (christenings, wedding Masses, funerals, ...).
Reforestation: An attempt to Col reforestation was attempted in the nineteenth century, but the opposition prevented the farmers grazing animals are preferred. Do not take our time to be planted as timber and give the site a more warm.

Au XXle siècle ...
Aujourd'hui, Le Col de La Perche est composé de deux corps de ferme de chaque côté de la route. Le garage Jampy et le lotissement agrandissent le hameau vers les pentes de Cerdagne. Les deux hôtels, le Catalan et Les Mélèzes poursuivent la tradition hospitalière alors que le côté agricole diminue. Le Train Jaune voisine les champs de La Perche pour monter vers la gare la plus haute de France, à quelques mètres de la Perche, sur Bolquère ! Souhaitons que ce site retrouve ses racines si anciennes et sa particularité. Nous espérons que la Vierge des Voyageurs trouvera à nouveau sa place et qu'elle sera le lien entre l'église de La Cabanasse et son origine à La Perche.

Patrick RANCOULE (informations gathered from the book of E.Brousse “La Cerdagne française” 1896 and from the document of Alart).
Made on 10th July 2001 in Moulins.
Thanks to J. Armengou for the loan of postcards.
Photos P. Parent and P. Rancoule.