Sant Cugat Museum facts for kids
The Sant Cugat Museum (also known as Museu de Sant Cugat in Catalan) first opened its doors on April 23, 2003. Its main goal is to protect and share the history, art, and culture of Sant Cugat del Vallès in Catalonia, Spain. This museum is part of a bigger group called the Barcelona Provincial Council Local Museum Network.
The Sant Cugat Museum has two main locations: the historic Monastery of Sant Cugat and Casa Aymat. It also includes two other interesting buildings: the Celler Modernista and the Chapel of Sant Domenec. At these places, you can find special areas for temporary art and history exhibits. The museum also works to bring back and share the town's past, often organizing walks to help people discover local history.
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Where to Explore: Museum Locations
The Sant Cugat Museum is spread across several unique buildings, each with its own story.
The Sant Cugat Monastery: A Journey Through Time
The Monastery of Sant Cugat is the main home of the museum. This amazing building was constructed over many centuries, from the 9th to the 14th century. When you visit, you can explore the beautiful cloister and the church.
Inside the monastery, some rooms around the cloister have been turned into a special center. Here, you can learn all about medieval monasteries. The museum's main exhibit shows how these old buildings were designed. It also explains how the detailed Romanesque stone carvings were made. You can also discover the rules that monks followed, known as The Rule of Saint Benedict. The exhibit tells the story of the Sant Cugat Monastery, from when it was founded in the 9th century until it stopped being a monastery in 1835.
Casa Aymat: Home of Tapestry Art
Casa Aymat is another important part of the Sant Cugat Museum. It was built in 1926 by Tomàs Aymat as a factory for making rugs and tapestries. Later, it became the main place for the Catalan Tapestry School.
Today, Casa Aymat is home to the Contemporary Tapestry Museum. It shows how tapestry art changed over time. You can see older, traditional styles and also newer art from the Noucentisme movement. The museum highlights the work of artists like Josep Grau-Garriga, who was a famous student of the Catalan Tapestry School. The exhibits include many different tapestries and artworks by artists such as Subirachs, Ràfols-Casamada, Guinovart, and Hernàndez Pijuan.
Other Museum Buildings: More History to Discover
Celler Modernista: A Look at Wine Making
The Celler Modernista is what remains of an old cooperative wine press. It was started in 1921 and designed by Cesar Martinell. He was an architect known for designing farm buildings. His work was inspired by Gaudi's art style and the modern ideas of the early 1900s.
The wine industry in this area slowed down after the 1950s. The last time wine was made here was in 1988. Many of the original buildings were taken down to make space for new city buildings. The remaining hall now hosts exhibitions and can be visited on certain days, especially weekends.
Chapel of Sant Domenec: A Quiet Stop on the Monks' Path
The Chapel of Sant Domenec is a small, peaceful chapel. It is located on an old road that connected two important monasteries: Sant Cugat and Sant Llorenç del Munt. This path went through towns like Sant Cugat, Sant Quirze, Terrassa, and Matadepera.
Inside the chapel, you can find exhibits about the "Monks' Path" and a battle that happened in Sant Cugat during the Peninsular War. However, the chapel is not open very often.
See also
In Spanish: Museo de Sant Cugat para niños
