Notre-Dame de la Réal Church

Historically, the Church of Notre-Dame de la Réal, right here in front of you, was the fourth parish in Perpignan — after Saint-Jean, Saint-Jacques, and Saint-Matthieu. But don’t let that ranking fool you. It played a major role in the city’s history. Located in the heart of Perpignan, right at the foot of the prestigious Palace of the Kings of Majorca, this church — also known as Notre-Dame of the King — was originally the castle chapel, built as part of the royal fortress. It was commissioned by the King of Majorca, James II, and inaugurated around the year 1321. Its style is typical of southern Gothic architecture, with a façade made of bricks and pebbles. The church first housed a community of canons, but later became the setting for one of the most important chapters in its history. At the start of the 14th century, the papacy had moved to Avignon. But in 1377, Pope Gregory XI returned to Rome, hoping to break free from the influence of King Philip the Fair, who had held strong sway over his predecessors. Unfortunately, he died the following year. His successor, Urban VI, quickly lost favor due to his lack of diplomacy, and a new pope was elected: Clement VII. Being French, Clement chose to return to Avignon.That’s when the Western Christian world split in two. Depending on political interests and rivalries, different kingdoms picked a side. France, Scotland, southern Italy, and Spain supported Clement VII, while England, northern and central Italy, and the Holy Roman Empire sided with Urban VI in Rome.This divide would become known as the Great Western Schism — a kind of papal tug-of-war. When Clement VII died in 1394, Benedict XIII was elected in Avignon to carry on the fight. Like his Roman rival, Benedict claimed to be the one true pope. To defend his legitimacy, he even organized a council right here in Perpignan — inside this very church, Notre-Dame de la Réal.