Sant Llorenç prop Bagà is a former

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

monastery A monastery is a building or complex of buildings comprising the domestic quarters and workplaces of monastics, monks or nuns, whether living in communities or alone (hermits). A monastery generally includes a place reserved for prayer which ...

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

, Spain. The Romanesque building is located near

Guardiola de Berguedà Guardiola de Berguedà is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Berguedà in Catalonia. It is situated at the confluence of the Bastareny and Llobregat rivers in the north of the ''comarca''. It is an important local commercial centre, and fo ...

in comarca

Berguedà Berguedà () is an inland comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain, lying partly in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees, and partly in the Catalan Central Depression. Geography The northern half of Berguedà, known as Alt Berguedà (“Upper Berguedà� ...

History

Documented in the year 898 is a donation of land to a community of monks with an abbot. At the time of its consecration on November 21, 983, there were fifteen monks. It prospered due to large donations made by earls and lords of the area. From the 12th century, the monastery declined. The existence of abbots who did not reside in the monastery added to the debt. In 1592, the priory was converted into the Congregation of Tarragona Claustral and linked to the monastery of

Sant Pau del Camp Sant Pau del Camp (; ) is a church and former monastery in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. While the monastery now stands within the El Raval district in central Barcelona, it once stood outside the city (before 14th century); its rural location gave ...

, becoming totally neglected by 1614. Excavation and restoration occurred in the 1980s and 2000s, through Barcelona Provincial Council.

Architecture and fittings

The first church was rectangular in shape with three naves separated by columns, a main door on the east side facade, and other building which connected with the monastery. During the 11th century, two semicircular apses were added, the remains of which were found in the excavations of the 1980s. The most important addition occurred in the 12th century which included a platform built in the middle of the nave and beneath it was a crypt adjoining other section various stairwells. Following further reforms in the 18th and 19th centuries, the building was preserved, though half the size of the original. The upper floor is used for worship and the nave has a barrel vault with various windows arches. Only the walls remain of the cloister and monastic rooms.

Bibliography

* Pladevall, Antoni (2001). ''Guies Catalunya Romànica'', El Berguedà. Barcelona, Pòrtic. (in Catalán).

External links

Monestir de Sant Llorenç prop Bagà
- Monestirs de Catalunya {{DEFAULTSORT:Sant Llorenc prop Baga Benedictine monasteries in Catalonia Christian monasteries established in the 10th century Romanesque architecture in Catalonia