Sant Pere de Rodes facts for kids
Sant Pere de Rodes is a very old Benedictine monastery. It is located in the northeast part of Catalonia, Spain.
Where is Sant Pere de Rodes?
This amazing monastery is found in a town called El Port de la Selva. It sits on the side of Verdera Mountain. Just above it are the ruins of Sant Verdera Castle. This castle used to protect the monastery. From the monastery, you can see amazing views of Llançà Bay. This bay is north of Cap de Creus.
Near the monastery, there are also old ruins of a medieval town. All that is left of this town is an old church. It is called Santa Helena church.
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Verdera Castle, which protected the monastery.
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Santa Helena church, part of an old medieval town.
History of the Monastery
No one knows exactly how this monastery started. There are many stories and legends about it. One legend says that monks came here with the remains of Saint Peter. They wanted to save these holy items from invaders. After the danger passed, Pope Boniface IV told them to build a monastery.
The first time the monastery was written about was in the year 878. Back then, it was just a small place for monks. But in 945, it became a full Benedictine monastery. It had its own abbot, who was the head monk.
The monastery became very important between the 1000s and 1100s. Many people came here on pilgrimages. But by the 1600s, it started to decline.
In the 1600s, the monastery was attacked and robbed many times. In 1793, the monks left the monastery. They moved to other places. Finally, in 1809, the monastery community was closed down.
In 1930, Sant Pere de Rodes was declared an important national monument. Repair work started in 1935 to save it.
Monastery Architecture
The buildings of the monastery are built on different levels. This is because of its mountain location. The cloisters, which are covered walkways around a courtyard, were built in the 1100s. They are the central part of the monastery. Other buildings are built around them.
The church was finished in 1022. It is a great example of Romanesque architecture. This style was popular in Europe a long time ago. The church has a main hall (called a nave) and two side aisles. It has arched ceilings. Double columns with special tops separate the main hall from the aisles. These columns and pillars were taken from an even older Roman building.
The main hall leads to a rounded area called an apse. There is also a crypt, which is an underground room, below the apse. The church mixes different old styles. It is considered one of the best examples of Romanesque architecture in Catalonia.
On the west side of the monastery, there is a square bell tower from the 1100s. Its style was influenced by Lombard architecture. Next to it is a defensive tower. This tower was probably started in the 900s.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de San Pedro de Roda para niños
