Catalonia - Art and Culture 2018

Castles and fortresses fill borderlands which in history were often subject to attacks and sieges. CASTLES AND FORTRESSES

Monasteries, churches, sanctuaries

Religious buildings have always had a clear will of representation to show the great power of the Catholic Church.

© imagen m.a.s.

The Romanesque bell towers that seem to con- nect sky and land, are a symbol of identity of the Vall de Boí (Pirineus). A blue sky, high peaks, crystal-clear water, and ever present greenery are the backdrop to breathtaking architecture. Nine churches in the area were declared UNES- CO World Heritage in 2000. The value is due to the stylistic unity of their functional and beautiful Lombard Romanesque buildings. With their characteristic half point arches and cannon domes inherited from Roman architecture, Ro- manesque architecture was the first clearly Christian style. It will be discovered by whoever visits the Romanesque Centre (www.centrero- manic.com) , which in the valley itself, offers all information that visitors might need to discover this stone paradise. Essential too is a visit to the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (MNAC, Barcelona), where in the early 20th century the original paintings were transferred from the churches of Boí, as well as sculptures in stone and wood, to protect them from being sacked and sold.

Created between the 11th and 13th centuries, when Catalonia was shaping its identity, the Romanesque constructions are spread around the whole country. The colossal monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes (Costa Brava) stands on the Rodes hill range with unbeatable views of the bay of Llançà. And the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll (Pirineus), with its overwhelming series of portals and which is a true stone Bible, is a masterpiece of 13th-century Romanesque sculpture. To the south, the Santa Tecla Cathe- dral in Tarragona (Costa Daurada), built be- tween 1170 and 1331, rises at the highest point of the city, as the temple of Augustus once did. Sober and austere, the monasteries of the Cistercian order also bear witness to the passing from the Romanesque period to the Gothic pe- riod. They stand between vineyards, almond, and olive groves on lands which were in Muslim hands until the 12th century. Among the best preserved is the monastery of Santes Creus, which contains the pantheons of the counts of Barcelona and the kings of Aragon and Valencia.

sant climent de taüll.

© NAnO CAÑAS

This is the night of the Castell de Peralada festival. It takes place in a wonderful location with hotels, casino and even a museum and a church. The building dates back to the 9th century and was occupied by real soldiers with shields and armour. Peralada Castle is one of the remaining fortifications that was built in Catalonia on the borderlands that needed to be defended. This is also the case for of castles such as Miravet Castle (Terres de l’Ebre) and the many border castles in the Terres de Lleida. Some ended up as homes, others were turned into hotels and many can be visited, such as Montsonís Castle. The flag waves on the Tower of Homage to indicate that the castle is still inhabited and that some rooms cannot be visited. The family of Carles de Montoliu i Carrasco, present barron of Albí resides in the castle.

peralada castle.

Monumenta: welcome to the castle In Catalonia, visitors can stay in a mediaeval castle, visit a defence tower turned into an artist’s studio, or organise an event in a Romanesque building. The owners of the remaining castles in Catalonia, such as the Riudabella Castle, belong to a group called Monumenta, which opens these historic places to the public and which has protected and disseminated information on Catalonia’s architectural legacy for over 25 years.

600 there are castles and fortifications in Catalonia.

1.900 IN CATALONIA THERE ARE Romanesque buildings

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For more information www.monumenta.info

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