Monastery of Sant Pere de Rodes

What is certain is that next to the monastery are some structures of very ancient origin, possibly Roman, and that small, decorated marble fragments from that period, later reused, come from this place. The first historical records date back to 878, in a precept of King Louis II the Stammerer, where the place is mentioned as a monastic cell dependent on Sant Esteve de Banyoles. At this time, Sant Pere was part of a group of four cells (together with Sant Joan Ses Closes, Sant Cebrià de Penida y Sant Fruitós de la Vall de Santa Creu) that were the subject of a dispute between Banyoles and Saint-Polycarpe de Razès, in Languedoc.

From 1100 onwards, and throughout the 12th century, the monastery underwent renovation work, perhaps due to the destructive effects of the disputes between the houses of Peralada and Empúries, which affected the monastery. It was then that the narthex was built, a new doorway, and later the third, that of the Master of Cabestany, to be dated between 1160 and 1163. This work was destroyed when the monastery was abandoned and now only a few fragments remain, the most important being the one in the Museu Marès in Barcelona, with the Apparition of Christ to the Apostles, and a beautiful capital in the Museum of Peralada. The new cloister was also built. The monastery enjoyed great vitality until the end of the 14th century, but then fell into decline, with the relaxation of community life, lack of donations to the monastery... to which must be added the effects of the Black Death (1345), which claimed the lives of twenty-four monks.

The oldest surviving remains can be dated back to Roman times, while the earliest monastic remains may date back to the 8th century. The church that still survives is basically the one whose construction began around the year 1000. There has always been controversy about this church because it departs from the usual construction systems of the time. It is a building with three naves (the side naves are very narrow), a transept and three apses, the central one with an ambulatory and a parabolic floor plan, the side apses are in the transept. The central nave is covered with a barrel vault supported by pillars with attached columns, on a very high base.

The work continued with the construction of the second cloister, which has been restored, although the capitals are scattered in various places. Mention should also be made of the bell tower, possibly built between the 11th and 12th centuries. It is matched by a defence tower, or keep, which is also ancient, dating from the 10th century, with later modifications. The monastery's monumental ensemble, although it has suffered all kinds of despoilment and is in ruins, still impresses thanks to the restorations and the singular beauty of its church.