1. Welcome

You have just entered a place where, for more than a thousand years, men and women have come in search of God. Welcome to the church of the Monastery of Sant Cugat, one of the most beautiful and distinctive churches in Catalonia.

The Christian history of this place goes back some 1600 years. In the sixth century, a small church was already built here, and you can still see its foundations in the cloister.

For almost a thousand years, a community of Benedictine monks lived here. Over the centuries, they developed the Monastery and built the great church that now stands before you.

In 1835, the monks left the Monastery and, ever since, this church has been the home of the parish of Sant Pere d’Octavià. So, what you are visiting is not just a monument from the past: it is a living church. Every Sunday, more than 2,000 people attend the different Masses and, throughout the week, many others come in to pray, celebrate the sacraments or simply find a few moments of silence.

For this reason, as you explore the church, we ask you to respect the atmosphere of prayer and silence you will find here.

Now look at the space before you.

You are standing in an extraordinary church, because its architecture allows us to see the transition from the Romanesque to the Gothic style.

Construction of the present church began around 1150, near the altar. In the apse and earliest vaults, you can see the solid forms and rounded arches characteristic of the Romanesque style.

Construction gradually moved towards the western end of the church. When it reached the area of the crossing tower, the architecture began to change: pointed arches appeared, the forms became more vertical, and the building gradually entered the Gothic world. If you then walk along the side aisles, you will be able to see this transformation particularly clearly.

In a way, walking through this church is also a journey through the centuries.

With this audio guide, we invite you to discover its treasures. You will find Romanesque, Gothic, Renaissance, Baroque and contemporary works; some are monumental, while others are small details that could easily go unnoticed.

The system is very simple: enter the number you will find next to the work of art or the space you would like to discover, and you can listen to its explanation. There is no need to follow a particular order: simply let yourself be guided by whatever catches your attention.

Put on your headphones to listen to the audio guide and, above all, take your time.

Look, walk around, lift your eyes and allow yourself to be surprised.

Let us begin.