WELCOME to Santa Maria de l’Estany
You are in the place where, more than 900 years ago – in 1080 – a small community of canons settled to live following the Rule of Saint Augustine.
This community flourished and, over time, starting from the original small church, built a series of buildings that show the extent of its splendor: the church of Santa Maria, the Romanesque cloister, the canons’ quarters…
Sheltered by the monastery and the lagoon that gave it its name – in Catalan “estany” means lagoon – the village that welcomes you today gradually grew.
For more than three centuries, the former monastery has been the seat of the parish of Santa Maria de l’Estany. From the medieval monastic complex, today remain the church, the museum rooms and, above all, the extraordinary Romanesque cloister, a jewel of religious sculpture of international renown. The lagoon was drained centuries ago. We hope that, even today, these stones can convey the serenity, calmness and inner experience for which they were created.
Enjoy your visit!
1 RELIGIOUS ART ROOM
This room displays the parish treasure of Santa Maria, as well as other religious pieces from various churches or private collections. Among them stand out: the processional cross of Santa Maria, in silver (17th century), the basin of the Virgin of the Milk (18th century), the reliquary of the True Cross (17th century), a magnificent baroque chalice (18th century) and the set of chrism vessels (17th to 19th centuries).
Also noteworthy are the display cases with different images of the Virgin, donated by individuals, and the collection of tools used to make the sacred hosts.
The large wooden wheel hanging on the wall is a tower rattle; it replaced the bells during Holy Week.
The clock mechanism of the bell tower, with its weights, is also of interest.
2 LAPIDARY ROOM
This room houses stone elements of various kinds. Particularly interesting are the Gothic tombstones depicting the Calvary (13th–14th centuries), the ossuary of the Centelles family (11th–12th centuries) and the anthropomorphic tombs (11th–12th centuries). Also remarkable is the set of baroque vault keystones from the monastery church (17th century), with saints and angels in relief, some in stone and others in plaster.
3 OTHER ROOMS
These rooms display pieces of various kinds. Highlights include a splendid sacristy chest of drawers, in walnut wood, with delicate marquetry (1733), ceramic containers for domestic use, and an interior paneled door (18th century).
4 UPPER CLOISTER
In modern times, a floor was built above the cloister for the canons’ quarters.
This floor was removed in the mid-20th century, and in 1987 the current large overhanging roof was created to protect the capitals from rain without adding weight.
Today it is a space that allows you to view the Romanesque cloister from a very interesting perspective.
5 CLOISTER
The Romanesque cloister is a jewel of Catalan cultural heritage.
The north wing of the cloister, begun in the mid-12th century, is the oldest part.
The capitals depict the entire life of Christ, from birth to Calvary, as well as other allegorical themes of humanity’s redemption. Notable are the capitals of the Flight into Egypt, the Last Supper and Christ’s entry into Jerusalem.
In the west wing of the cloister, especially on the inner side, the capitals are decorated with bestiary and floral motifs, as well as geometric and heraldic figures. The capital with winged animals stands out.
The south wing of the cloister is the most modern; it was completed at the end of the 13th or beginning of the 14th century. Its capitals show decorative motifs similar to those of the west gallery. Notable are the capitals with motifs depicting a rooster, a knight and a deer.
The east wing is very rich from an iconographic point of view: although we find religious scenes, such as the Annunciation to Mary, there are also internationally known profane scenes, such as a young woman combing her hair, peasants threshing sheaves or an ox playing a musical instrument.
The cloister also contains the sarcophagus of the Peguera family (1335) and those of the abbots Jaume de Rocabruna, Berenguer Desvall and Berenguer de Riudeperes (14th century).
6 CHURCH
The Romanesque church was consecrated in 1133, although it has been extensively restored several times. It has a Latin cross plan with a barrel vault. At the intersection of the nave and transept is the dome that supports the bell tower.
The central apse, centered by an ornamented window, is preceded by two columns with sculpted capitals that support the main arch of the presbytery. The two apse chapels, which had been removed centuries earlier, were rebuilt during the major restoration of 1966–1970. The former chapter hall, or Chapel of Saint Nicholas, is now the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Especially noteworthy is the Gothic alabaster sculpture of the Virgin of l’Estany nursing the Child (14th century). Also of interest are the Romanesque baptismal font and the remains of the choir stalls from the Baroque period.