Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa, Benedictine abbey in Codalet, France
Saint-Michel-de-Cuxa is a Benedictine abbey in Codalet at the base of Mount Canigou featuring a pre-Romanesque church and a Romanesque-Lombard tower from the 10th century. The site includes monastic buildings and a large 12th-century cloister with carefully carved capital decorations.
The abbey was founded in 878 after floods destroyed the original monastery of Saint-André d'Eixalada. Surviving monks established this new religious settlement in the Cuxa valley.
The name refers to the archangel Michael and the Cuxa valley location where it stands. The large 12th-century cloister defines the visual character of the place with its skillfully carved marble capitals that visitors can still admire.
Visitors can join guided tours offered in multiple languages including French, German, English, Catalan, Spanish, and Italian. Discounted admission is available for students and younger visitors.
The Pablo Casals Festival happens every year at the abbey, continuing a musical tradition that started in 1950 when the cellist first performed there. This artistic connection makes the place an important center for classical music in the region.
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