Sant Pere de Casserres
Sant Pere de Casserres is a former Benedictine monastery from the 11th century near the town of Vic. It belongs to the municipality of Les Masies de Roda in the comarca of Osona of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia and is situated on a small rocky hill above the dam Pantà de Sau, the river Ter forms.
History
In the year 898 is mentioned for the first time a castle on the site of the later monastery. 972 there was already a church dedicated to the Apostle Peter. In 1006, the Countess of Ermetruit Osona - Cardona acquired by Count Raymond Borrell of Barcelona, the Good Casserres and founded with her daughter Enúnica a monastery, which was also dedicated to Peter. Already for the year 1012 Abbot has come down with the name Acfred 1053 the abbey church was consecrated. The monastery became a grave place of the founder and other noble families of the area, which could send him donations. It also served as a retirement home of single ladies who inherited their wealth to the monastery to be accompanied for the dying. As soon lived less than 12 monks in the monastery, it was downgraded in 1060 to Priorat. In 1079 the monastery of the Benedictine abbey of Cluny was assumed and the administrative center of the possessions of Cluny in Catalonia.
From the 14th century it was to come, and the prior was used by the kings of Aragon. The first of these priors used was Pedro de Luna, who later became Pope Benedict XIII. , Who resided as anti-pope in Avignon and Peniscola. Conflict with the Bishop of Vic, earthquakes and population decline led to the decline of the monastery. At no time lived more than 12 or 13 people in the monastery and the end of the 15th century there were only two monks.
1572 the priory was subordinate to the Jesuit college of Bethlehem in Barcelona, to which it. Until the abolition of the Jesuits by Charles III belonged in 1767. Thereafter, the system was privately owned until it was bought in 1991 by the district administration of Osona. 1994-1998 was the restoration.
Church
The church of Sant Pere has a square floor plan and three naves that are separated by two cross-shaped pillars. All three ships have a barrel vault and end in semicircular apses, which are surmounted by quarter tons. In places there are remains of the painting to see. On the outer walls, the apses on Lombard decoration elements such as pilasters and arcades.
Belfry
The square bell tower has a pyramidal roof and only two floors. The upper floor has on each side two arched windows.
Cloister
The cloister was built in the late 11th century and is the cloister of the monastery of Santa Maria de l' Estany similar. It was rebuilt after an earthquake in the 15th century with original columns and capitals. The capitals have vegetal and geometric motifs.
Legend
According to legend, the monastery was built over the grave of a child from the home of the Earls of Cardona, which is already could speak three days after his birth, and predicted that it would die after thirty days. It ordered that his body should be tied to a mule and where the mule would settle down, built a monastery and should be dedicated to the Apostle Peter. In the monastery, the remains of a mummified child are obtained, where supernatural powers were worshiped by the inhabitants of the region as relics and awarded. In times of drought the urn containing the remains of the child was carried in procession to the Ter.