CATALONIA MEDIEVAL: ABBEYS AND MONASTERIES

Today I would like to speak about a kind of religious building I like a lot: abbeys and monasteries. In Catalonia there are many monasteries and some of them are really important. Actually, some of these monasteries are references of the architectural style in which they are built.

I like visiting abbeys because they are great exemples of the medieval art in Catalonia and of two architectural styles I like: the romanesque and gothic styles. Besides, when I enter a monastery, I enjoy the peace and calmness I feel walking inside this kind of places and its environment.

Next you can see the more important abbeys and monasteries you can visit in Catalonia:

• Ripoll Monastery (9th century)
• Montserrat Abbey (9th century)
• Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery in Camprodon (9th century)
• Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery in La Costa Brava (10th century)
• Sant Pere Monastery in Besalú (10th century)
• Sant Pere Monastery in Camprodon (10th century)
• Poblet Monastery (12th century)
• Santes Creus Monastery (12th century)
• Vallbona de les Monges Monastery
• (12th century)
• Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery in Girona (12th century)
• Pedralbes Monastery (14th century)
• Sant Miquel del Fai Abbey (15th century)
• Sant Cugat Monastery (9th century)
• Monastery of La Mola (11th century)

In brackets the century when were founded.

Without any doubt, some of the most important abbeys in Catalonia are the ones of Ripoll, Montserrat, Poblet and Santes Creus. The most beautiful ones for me: Ripoll and Poblet Monasteries.


Besides, there is a route connecting three of the monasteries listed above: Santes Creus, Poblet and Vallbona de les Monges. This route is called La Ruta del Cister (The Cistercian Route) and its name comes from the artistic and cultural heritage of these three Cistercian monasteries.

Ripoll Monastery

Typical romanesque archs of the two-storey cloister of Ripoll Monastery

Inside the romanesque church of the benedictine Ripoll monastery

Ripoll monastery, cradle of Catalan culture, with the catalan flag on top of the bell tower

Montserrat Abbey

Bell tower of Montserrat Abbey, one of the most important symbols of the Catalan Culture as well as a bastion of resistance against the dictatorship

Gothic cloister of the benedictine Montserrat Abbey with Montserrat mountains behind it

Sant Joan de les Abadesses Abbey

The bell tower of the romanesque church of Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery through one of the gothic archs of the cloister

Gothic archs of the cloister of Sant Joan de les Abadesses Monastery, a really quiet and peaceful place

Sant Pere de Rodes  Monastery

One of the bell towers of the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, built in romanesque style. The views of the Mediterranean sea and the village of El Port de la Selva from this monastery are fantastic

Inside the romanesque church of the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery

Sant Pere Abbey in Besalú

The romanesque church of the Sant Pere Monastery in Besalú is the only part of the monastery  which still remains

Sant Pere Monastery in Camprodon

Of the ancient monastery of Sant Pere de Camprodón, the third largest in the area after the Ripoll and Sant Joan de les Abadesses monasteries, only the church remains. This is a simple construction that keeps the original Latin cross plan. The bell tower is located on the octagonal dome above the altar

Poblet Monastery (Ruta del Cister)

Benedictine Monastery of Poblet

Gothic archs of the cloister of Poblet Monastery

Another picture of the cloister of Poblet Monastery is a really well preserved religious building

Santes Creus  Monastery (Ruta del Cister)

Main facade of the church of Santes Creus Monastery

Gothic cloister of the benedictine Santes Creus Monastery

Vallbona de les Monges  Monastery (Ruta del Cister)

Gothic cloister of the benedictine monastery of Vallbona de les Monges

Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery

Apse and bell tower of Sant Pere de Galligants Monastery, located in a lovely area of the old city of Girona

Pedralbes Monastery

Bell tower of the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery

Gothic archs of the two-storey cloister of Pedralbes Monastery

Sant Miquel del Fai

Medieval abbey of Sant Miquel del Fai

Monastery of Sant Cugat

Monastery of Sant Cugat in Barcelona

Monastery of La Mola

Monastery on the top of La Mola, called Sant Llorenç del Munt

I also recommend visiting other fantastic religious buildings like the church of Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona, the cathedral of Girona, the romanesque churches in la Vall de Boí or the romanesque church of Sant Cristófol de Beget.

Besides, clicking on the next link you will find links to other beautiful places in Catalonia, among them, some charming medieval villages like Besalú, Beget, Castellar de N'Hug, Montblanc or Rupit.