Ripoll - Monastery of Santa Maria

Wilfred the Hairy (aka Guifré el Pilós), whom we just "met" as the founder of the nearby monastery in Sant Joan de les Abadesses, where his daughter Emma of Barcelona was the first abbess, founded the Monastery of Santa Maria in Ripoll in 879. Here his son Radulf de Barcelona was abbot. This was not only Wilfred´s family business, he was very successful in the political power game of that time.

The first church was consecrated in 888, but as the monastery grew it was "reconsecrated" in 935, 977 and 1032. When Oliba de Besalú, as well a descendent of Wilfred, was abbot here (1008 - 1046), this was a cultural center. More than 250 books were on the shelves of the monastery´s library.

The church was the burial place for the Counts of Besalú and Barcelona. Still today many tombs can be found in the transept, including that one of Wilfred the Hairy.

The decline started within the 15th century. In 1428 it was severely damaged by an earthquake, the restoration was done in Gothic style.

The church got ruined during the first Carlist War, the library burnt down, and the last monks had left. In 1847 part of the cloister and soon after, the abbot´s palace got demolished.

The Bishop of Vic organized the rebuilding so that the church got consecrated again in 1893. The church of today is vastly a product of the reconstruction of the 19th century, but it may be "near" to the romanesque structure.

The cloister got reconstructed end of the 19th century as well, but as only a part of it had been demolished, it still contains a lot of the original structure.

The construction of the ground floor started in 1180 and it took until the early 15th century to complete it. The second-floor dates to the 15th and 16th centuries. Some of the capitals are sculptured by Jordi de Déu (aka Jordi Johan). Jordi de Déu (+1418), born on the island of Sicily, with greek roots, was sold as a slave to Catalan master carver Jaume Cascalls, who taught him sculpture.

I have been to Ripoll a couple of times, so I may add some older photos as well.

Here is the famous portal of the church, that of course got damaged, but survived the times. 11,60m wide, 7,25m high - it is hard to take a photo of the whole portal.


I was so impressed and overwhelmed, that, when I returned to the hotel during the siesta-hours, I immediately booked a second night. I knew that this structure would grab me for many hours. I have to say a special "GRACIAS" to the helpful lady at the ticket counter. Of course I will not upload all photos I took in Ripoll. Just a few.



Here the portal seen from left.