Santa Cecília de Montserrat facts for kids
Santa Cecília de Montserrat is an old Benedictine monastery located in Marganell, a town in Catalonia, Spain. A monastery is a special place where monks or nuns live and pray. This one is very old and has a rich history.
A Look Back in Time
The monastery was started by its first leader, an abbot named Cesari. He received help from Sunyer, Count of Barcelona, and his wife, Riquilda de Tolosa. In the year 945, Jordi, who was the Bishop of Vic, gave permission for the monastery to be built. It was set up to follow the rules of Saint Benedict and was under the bishop's control.
After Abbot Cesari passed away, another important leader named Abbot Oliva tried to take control of Santa Cecília. However, the monks living there did not agree with this. For many years, the monastery was a safe place for people traveling to Montserrat on a pilgrimage. A pilgrimage is a special journey, often for religious reasons.
In the 1400s, the monastery started to become less important. By 1539, it became part of the larger Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey.
Rebuilding After Damage
Sadly, in 1811 and 1812, French soldiers attacked the building. They took things and burned parts of it. Later, in 1862, the Abbot of Montserrat, Miquel Muntadas, ordered the monastery to be rebuilt.
Until 1940, a group of Benedictine nuns lived there. They were connected to another monastery called Sant Pere de les Puelles. In 1954, the nuns moved to a new home called Sant Benet. Since then, Santa Cecília de Montserrat has been used as a place for hikers to stay and as a meeting center for groups.
Building Style and Changes
The original monastery was built in a style called Romanesque. This style often features strong, rounded arches and thick walls. Santa Cecília had three rounded sections called apses and two semicircular arches.
Over the years, the building has been updated several times. The most recent major changes happened between 1928 and 1931. These updates were designed by a famous architect named Josep Puig i Cadafalch.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa Cecilia de Montserrat para niños
