Santa Maria de Serrateix, Benedictine monastery in Serrateix, Catalonia.
Santa Maria de Serrateix is a Benedictine monastery in Serrateix, Catalonia, featuring a Romanesque church with Gothic chapels, a fortified bell tower, and an 18th-century cloister. The entire complex sits at about 730 meters elevation and serves as the local parish church.
The monastery was founded around 940 when monks brought relics of Saint Urbicio to the area. In 977, the Counts of Cerdanya and Besalu gave their protection and support to the monastery.
The church displays Romanesque features in its central apse, while Gothic chapels were added to the sides during the 15th and 16th centuries. This blend of building styles shows how the place evolved over different periods.
The monastery sits next to the BV-4235 road and is easy to reach by this route. Visitors can enter the church when services are not happening, and should dress respectfully and keep quiet in this active religious space.
The sarcophagus of Count Oliba Cabreta, an important medieval supporter of the monastery, remains preserved inside. This powerful noble chose this place for his burial, revealing the deep bond between local rulers and the religious community.
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