Sants Just i Pastor de la Cellera

Sants Just i Pastor de la Cellera is a Romanesque church in the municipality of La Cellera de Ter, in the province of Girona, in Catalonia's Selva county. The building stands in the area known as Pasteral, close to the Ter river, and is listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia as one of the more notable religious monuments in this part of Girona.

What will you see?

The church follows a simple single-nave, rectangular plan closed by a semicircular apse. A sacristy was added along the south wall, and the whole structure is covered by a double-pitched roof. Inside, the standout feature is a pointed barrel vault reinforced by a transverse arch — a construction typical of rural Romanesque churches in this part of Catalonia, here preserved in an unusually legible, almost textbook form.

The west facade is opened by an ashlar stone portal closed with a round arch, with a small window lighting the interior beside it. From the outside, though, the most recognisable element is the bell gable (espadanya) rising above the roofline, pierced by two round-arched openings and topped with its own small double-pitched tile roof. It's this slender silhouette that catches the eye first from the approach road.

The building's history likely stretches further back than the surviving documents suggest. The earliest written reference to the church dates only to 1364, yet the thickness of the walls and the plainness of the construction point to an origin several centuries earlier. The dedication itself supports an older date: Just and Pastor were 4th-century martyrs whose cult on the Iberian Peninsula traces back to Visigothic times, a pattern often associated with pre-Romanesque foundations.

The church has not always had an easy history. In the 15th century it was damaged during the famous earthquakes of 1427, which devastated large parts of Catalonia, and had to be partially rebuilt. Further renovation work followed in the early 19th century — evidenced by a lintel carved with the date 1801, still visible on the building today.

How to get there?

La Cellera de Ter sits in the Selva county, between the city of Girona and the hills of Les Guilleries, along the Ter river valley. The easiest way to reach it is by car, along local roads connecting Girona with the towns of Anglès and Amer — the drive from the provincial capital takes under half an hour. The church stands in the Pasteral area, away from the town's main built-up centre, so it's best to set your GPS directly to coordinates 41.98314 N, 2.62081 E. There is no large car park nearby; leave the car by the roadside and cover the final stretch on foot.

When to visit?

The Pasteral area is best known locally for the nearby reservoir on the Ter river, which makes spring and autumn the most popular seasons for a visit — temperatures are mild and the valley's greenery is at its best. Summer midday heat can be intense, so early morning or late afternoon visits work better. Winter brings quieter, emptier surroundings, which can actually suit photographers: the church and its bell gable stand out well against bare trees and low winter light.

Frequently asked questions

What is Sants Just i Pastor de la Cellera? It is a Romanesque parish church (sometimes referred to historically as a hermitage) in La Cellera de Ter, Girona province, listed in the Inventory of Architectural Heritage of Catalonia.

How old is the church? The first written mention dates to 1364, but the building's construction style and its dedication to two 4th-century martyrs suggest a much older, likely pre-Romanesque origin.

What should you look out for on site? The single-nave interior with its pointed barrel vault and transverse arch, the ashlar west portal, and the distinctive bell gable with two round-arched openings.

Was the church ever damaged? Yes. It suffered damage during the 1427 earthquakes and was partially rebuilt; further repairs followed in the early 19th century, marked by a lintel dated 1801.