Gerri de la Sal
MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA
Some historians place the origin of Gerri as far back as Roman times, when the salt mines were already being exploited. However, the first documentary evidence illustrating the existence of salt mining dates back to the 9th century, when the priest Espanell founded the monastery of Gerri on June 20, 807. It was originally dedicated to Saint Vincent, and over time, thanks to donations and purchases, it became one of the main owners. In fact, several authors attribute the location of this Benedictine monastery in Gerri to the presence of the saltwater spring.
The current building of Santa Maria, consecrated on September 25, 1149, was constructed according to the usual layout of early medieval monastic buildings, although the founding building was located in a small church of Visigothic origin not far from the current building, which has been documented archaeologically. It was one of the richest monasteries in the Bisbat d'Urgell, and among its extensive and illustrious heritage, salt and salt mines stand out, a key element in medieval times.
During the modern age, the abbots of the Monastery of Santa Maria continued to own salt mines. With the decline of the monastery and the confiscations of the first half of the 19th century, the loss of their territorial control also affected the salt mines. Their history ended with the secularization of 1835, which led to the dissolution of the community that resided there and their assets. Since 1970, the village of Gerri de la Sal and the Monastery of Santa Maria de Gerri have been declared a picturesque site. It was not until 1995 that the reclassification file was included as a Cultural Asset of National Interest, with the categories of historical site and historical monument, respectively.
How to get there: Via the N-260, just in front of the village of Gerri (Pàrking Público gratuïto) 25560 Gerri de la Sal (Baix Pallars)
Telephone: 677701820
The current building of Santa Maria, consecrated on September 25, 1149, was constructed according to the usual layout of early medieval monastic buildings, although the founding building was located in a small church of Visigothic origin not far from the current building, which has been documented archaeologically. It was one of the richest monasteries in the Bisbat d'Urgell, and among its extensive and illustrious heritage, salt and salt mines stand out, a key element in medieval times.
During the modern age, the abbots of the Monastery of Santa Maria continued to own salt mines. With the decline of the monastery and the confiscations of the first half of the 19th century, the loss of their territorial control also affected the salt mines. Their history ended with the secularization of 1835, which led to the dissolution of the community that resided there and their assets. Since 1970, the village of Gerri de la Sal and the Monastery of Santa Maria de Gerri have been declared a picturesque site. It was not until 1995 that the reclassification file was included as a Cultural Asset of National Interest, with the categories of historical site and historical monument, respectively.
How to get there: Via the N-260, just in front of the village of Gerri (Pàrking Público gratuïto) 25560 Gerri de la Sal (Baix Pallars)
Telephone: 677701820
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