Sant Pere de Galligants

The monastery of Sant Pere de Galligants is a former Benedictine Monastery in the city of Girona (Catalonia ). Since 1857, the Museu d' here Archeology de Catalunya is housed.

History

The exact date of its foundation is unknown. It was initiated as Ramon Borrell, Count of Barcelona, ​​992 the land on the river Galligants ( outside the walls of Girona 's Sant Pere ) presented available and some years later the monastery gave generously in his will. Thus, the monastery was one of the rare examples of a city -affiliated foundation; usually preferred the Benedictine loneliness.

In 1117 united Count Ramon Berenguer III. the monastery with the French abbey of Sainte -Marie de Lagrasse; but it was allowed to keep its own abbot. A short time later the present church was built. Although the merger was retained, he was already a century later only formally present and the monastery basically independent again.

Currently Peter IV the city walls of Girona have been extended. Sant Pere became everyone within the city.

The Abbey was not very big. Sometimes lived here except the abbot only six monks and six brothers. Although the church parish church of Sant Pere district, was found most services are held at the nearby Church of Saint Nicolas; only the baptisms were donated in the monastery church.

In the 15th century, the period of decline began. 1592, the compound was dissolved abbey of Lagrasse and later joined the monastery with the abbeys of Sant Miquel de Cruïlles and San Miguel de Fluviá. However, this association has not contributed to revival. When the monastery was closed in 1835, lived there only one abbot and four monks.

Building

The present church was built on the remains of the earlier building in 1130. The octagonal bell tower has with its pilasters and arched friezes on Lombard decorative forms. With the enlargement of the city walls ( 1362 ), the tower was rebuilt for defense purposes.

Reminiscent to the simple, to older models, decorated with geometric patterns and figural ornaments portal is a rose window with 3.50 meters in diameter, the rim is also decorated with elaborate stone carvings.

The church is a three-aisled basilica with stepped choir. The capitals of the pillars in the nave show vegetal motifs. Of these, the capitals differ significantly on the flanks of the main apse. They are worked out elaborate and be the Master of Cabestany, an unnamed sculptor of the 12th century, attributed by the in Lagrasse works have survived.

Cloister

The cloister was built between 1154 ( northern part) and 1190. He is a fine example of Catalan Romanesque. The topics of the capitals are similar to those of the nearby cathedral. On some scene from the life of Jesus can be seen on other typical Romanesque motifs such as lion or sirens.