Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes

The ensemble includes the church and its belfry, the monastic cells, the dining hall and other rooms organised around the cloister. This is the most noteworthy example of Catalan autoctonous Romanesque architecture. It is currently home to the head office of Cap de Creus Natural Park.

Sant Pere de Rodes is the finest example of native Catalan Romanesque, a synthesis of earlier architectural and artistic influences like the Carolingian and the pre-Romanesque. It also has features of Roman art.

The monastery is located in the Rodes Mountains, facing the bays of Llançà and Port de la Selva, in a secluded area. The mountains rise vertically in the south and are crowned by Sant Salvador Castle. Despite this, the monastery has its own magnificent defensive tower. A document from the year 878 mentions monastic life here for the first time.

The site has the church with its bell tower, the monks’ cells, the dining room and other rooms, all organized around the cloister. The church, consecrated in the 11th century by the archbishop of Narbonne, is the most important feature and shows characteristic traits that had a strong influence on subsequent ecclesiastical buildings of the Catalan Romanesque: a Latin cross layout with three naves.

1798 marked the start of the monastery’s decline, with the final departure of the monks. It was not until 1930 that it was declared an Historical Artistic Monument, which led to it being restored by the Generalitat Government of Catalonia. A second phase began in 1990, which completed the restoration works and provided the site with some modern features (materials and structures) - perhaps too many for some tastes.

Prepared even for the new technologies, it currently houses the headquarters of the Cabo de Creus Natural Park.

In the summer guided visits to the monastery are organized.