Story of a singer from where
On the northern balconies of Canigó going down from Bélesta towards Ille-sur-Têt, an unusual detail catches the eye. An arrow pointing to the sky stands out from the horizon. To approach it, there is no path, no indication… just this little sign on the side of the road: “La Sybille”.
A little further on, a castle-like residence stands out: the Château de la Sybille. The link between these two curiosities? The diva Renée Vidal.
Renee Vidal
Born Zélia Rose Claudine Vidal in 1861, Renée Vidal was a singer from Bélesta, France. Known between the late 19th and early 20th centuries for her roles in major classical operas , she possessed a remarkable contralto voice. She traveled extensively, from Russia to Portugal and Italy, and enjoyed the favor of Parisian high society, never forgetting her roots. Demonstrating her generosity and attachment to her origins, she performed free of charge for families affected by cholera in Ille-sur-Têt in 1884 and subsequently on several occasions for private individuals in the region.
Sybille Castle
At Renée Vidal's request, the Château de la Sybille was built in 1889 and featured two large rooms—one on each floor—for the receptions and concerts the diva hosted there. Set amidst a park lavishly landscaped between 1890 and 1891, this haven overlooking the Orgues d'Ille was a peaceful retreat where celebrities, politicians, and artists were entertained. It was in this château that Renée Vidal died prematurely on September 26, 1911, at the age of 50.
Today the castle is a private property which unfortunately cannot be visited.
The tomb of the Sybille
So, what does this famous arrow stretching towards the heavens that overlooks the road represent?
It is in fact the posthumous residence of her father, Narcisse Vidal, a fervent republican opposed to Louis-Napoleon's coup d'état in 1851. Pursued, he hid amidst the granite boulders overlooking the Têt River and was unfortunately discovered and tried. Consequently, the mausoleum in which he rests was built by his daughter in 1893 on the very site of his hiding place.
Also, a second vault attached to the first will be reserved for Renée Vidal as well as for her husband, her mother and her sister. The latter will be the member of the family whose death sounded the hour of the final closing of the burial.
From this funerary structure, you can take in the Roussillon plain, the Canigou massif with the Orgues d'Ille in the foreground, all at a single glance. The panorama is breathtaking! If you continue your walk to the orientation table, you'll overlook the official Orgues d'Ille site and the famous Orgues de la Sibylle.
Sources:
John Rifa. 2011 "Renée Vidal (1861-1911) The singer with a tragic destiny", Notebook of Friends of the Old Ille, N°195, p. 19
https://www.lindependant.fr/2012/01/13/la-sybille-comme-un-decor-d-opera,105512.php
