From the Romanesque period to the present day the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery has stood in the Serra de Verdera in the Cap de Creus Natural Park. It’s regarded as a jewel of this period and one of the most important monasteries in Catalonia, not only because of its historical relevance, but also due to the major reconstruction and restoration work that has been carried out.
Càmpings de Girona will provide you with everything you need to know to enable you to visit the Sant Pere de Rodes Monumental Ensemble and enjoy this excellent cultural heritage.
Keep reading so that you don’t miss out on anything!
Although the first historical vestiges of this monastery date back to the 9th century, its origins are unclear, and numerous legends point to its birth in more distant times.
The most popular legend attributes its origins to the first monks who arrived in the area and constructed the building to protect and preserve the remains of Saint Peter and other saints. Although it isn’t possible to specify a particular date for these events, ancient remains have been discovered that give us an idea of the activity and human presence here.
During your visit to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, in addition to finding out more about all the legends surrounding it, you’ll be able to see one of the most important architectural works from the Catalan Romanesque era for yourself and delve into its history, which reached its climax between the 11th and 14th centuries, becoming the main spiritual centre of the county of Empúries run by the Benedictine monks.
You can also enjoy the magnificent panoramic views of Port de la Selva from the Monastery and visit parts of the building such as the cloisters, the church and some of its rooms.
You can visit the Sant Pere de Rodes Monumental Ensemble by purchasing a ticket (see prices) that will give you free access to the entire site. If you’d like to go on a guided tour of the monastery, you’ll have to contact the companies that provide this service.
-> Everything you need to know to book a visit to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery (PDF)
In any event, you can also use the public guide published by the Ministry of Culture of the Catalan Government, which will provide you with an official source of information throughout your visit.
Below we feature all the places not to be missed on a visit to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery:
One of the essential elements of your visit to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery is the church. This religious building built in stages is characterised by the originality of its creative architecture, which differs from other churches from the Mediaeval Age.
Enjoy the silence and savour every nook and cranny of this building devoted to worship. In it you can access the atrium, the central nave, the apse, the ambulatory and the crypt.
The cloisters are usually a common element in most monasteries around the world. However, you can find two in Sant Pere de Rodes.
Firstly, the lower cloister is the older of the two and was built before the second one; it was a space for reflection, reading and meetings. In the years of splendour, it was decided to build the upper cloister, the heart of the Monastery, which, in addition to having a recreational purpose, also provided access to the monks’ rooms.
Visible from the outside, the towers were used for defence and surveillance, protecting the building from potential looting.
As you approach them, you’ll see that the towers had no doors and could only be entered through hatches located on the first floors. Both the monks and those sheltered there were thus protected from their enemies.
The imposing bell tower is 27 metres high, just like the defensive towers. This part of the Monastery was built during the most important phase of its expansion in the 12th century.
Now that we’ve told you about the most important parts of the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, feel free to wander around each of its rooms to find out more about their former use and the way of life of the Benedictine monks.
After visiting the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery, we suggest going on a walk around the surrounding area. You’ll be able to view the wonderful landscapes here, as well as the other sights accompanying them to be found around the Monastery.
As you leave the grounds of the Monastery, after no more than 30 minutes you’ll come to the Sant Salvador de Verdera Castle, a building dating back to the 11th century in the same diocese as the monastery, which currently lies in ruins.
Càmpings de Girona recommends going on this short excursion because during the tour you’ll be able to enjoy the stunning views from one of the best vantage points on the Costa Brava. With the coast just two kilometres away as the crow flies, the panoramic view of the village of Port de la Selva, the Bay of Roses and the Empordà Natural Park Wetlands is spectacular.
We share the route for this short excursion in case you feel like going on it after your visit to the Monastery:
From the car park at the Sant Pere de Rodes Monumental Ensemble you can reach the pre-Romanesque and Romanesque church of Santa Helena de Rodes, part of the village of Santa Creu, within just a few minutes. Due to a black death pandemic, the population declined here and only the church has been conserved until today.
If you decide to go on this trip, you’ll be able to enjoy a short walk through the trees and the beautiful views out to sea.
Have you decided to pay the Monastery a visit? Below you’ll find all the information you need for your visit.
Tickets to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery are sold at various prices, depending on age and one-off discounts.
In addition, on the last Tuesday of each month between 1 October and 30 June admission to the Monastery is free of charge.
You can find more details on its website.
The Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery can be visited all the year round except on Mondays, 25 and 26 December and 1 and 6 January.
The opening times depend on the time of the year:
From 1 October to 31 May, from 10:00 am to 5:30 pm.
From 1 June to 30 September, from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm.
If you have any questions about the opening times and ticket prices, you can phone +34 972 38 75 59.
The Sant Pere de Rodes Monumental Ensemble organises guided tours that can be booked by calling +34 972 38 75 59 or writing to reservesspv.acdpc@gencat.cat
This Monumental Ensemble provides visitors with the option of spending an excellent cultural day that can end with a good meal at the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery Restaurant, located inside the Monastery itself.
Apart from the excellent local cuisine, this restaurant serves lunches and dinners accompanied by spectacular views of Port de la Selva, Vilajuïga and Cap de Creus.
A gastro-cultural combination that’s sure not to disappoint you!
You can get to the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery by driving towards Port de la Selva (half an hour by car from Cadaqués and one hour from the city of Girona). Along the way you’ll drive along a winding road with amazing views out to sea that will take you to the Monastery’s car park. You can park your car there and the entrance is just 300 metres away.
Another option from 10 July until the end of the summer season is the bus service that runs between the Sant Pere de Rodes Monastery and Port de la Selva with return trips available. + info.
The Monastery’s Monumental Ensemble has a car park ten minutes from the entrance on foot. During the busiest months we recommend scheduling your visit in advance and arriving at the parking area early.
Càmpings de Girona encourages you to go on a trip to this privileged location in the Alt Empordà to enjoy the landscape of Cap de Creus and the most important elements of the heritage of the Costa Brava.
Very close to this landmark you’ll find a campsite where you can rest and recover for your following visit.
To enable you to enjoy an excellent day visiting the Monastery, we share the 7-day weather forecast for Sant Pere de Rodes with you. You can choose the best day to visit the whole monumental ensemble.
Once again, Càmpings de Girona recommends paying a visit to it to discover one of the most spectacular elements of the heritage of the Costa Brava.
Don’t miss out!
