Monumental church complex of Sant Pere de Terrassa facts for kids
The Monumental church complex of Sant Pere is a very old and important group of churches in Terrassa, Province of Barcelona, Spain. It's considered a special landmark called a Bien de Interés Cultural, which means it's protected because of its historical and artistic value.
This amazing complex includes three churches: Sant Pere, Sant Miquel, and Santa Maria. They are built in the Romanesque style, which was popular in Europe between the 10th and 12th centuries. You can find them where two rivers, Vallparadís and Monner, used to meet (now it's Park Vallparadís). This area is known for its beautiful Catalan Romanesque art.
Long ago, from the 5th to the 8th centuries, this site was home to the Diocese of Egara. This was an important religious center for the Visigoth people who lived there at the time.
History of the Churches
The three churches were built close to an old Roman city called Égara. This city was very important and became the seat of a bishop around the year 450. It stayed a religious center until the 8th century, when invaders called the Saracens arrived.
The design of these churches, with three separate buildings (San Pedro, Santa Maria, and San Miguel), was inspired by old Byzantine churches. The churches you see today were mostly finished in the 11th and 12th centuries. They show the beautiful Romanesque style.
In the 12th century, the Santa María church became a home for a group of religious people called Augustinian canons. They lived there until 1392. Later, in 1601, the San Pedro church lost its main church status and became part of the new bishopric of Terrassa, which is now the Terrassa Cathedral. But don't worry, San Pedro got its main church status back in the 19th century!
Many experts, like architects, archaeologists, and historians, have studied these churches over the years. In the 20th century, people like Josep Puig i Cadafalch did a lot of research. They wanted to learn more about the history of the bishops who lived there and the old Roman city of Égara. Puig i Cadafalch even helped rebuild parts of the complex.
Because of their importance, these churches were declared a national monument in 1931. Then, in 1985, they became a Bien de Interés Cultural landmark. Today, this group of churches is also a part of the Terrassa Museum, helping people learn about its rich past.
Images for kids
-
From left to right: the churches of San Pedro, San Miguel and Santa Maria
See also
External links
- Official website of Seu d'Ègara: https://www.seudegara.cat/
- Terrassa City Council information on Seu d'Ègara
