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ROMANESQUE IN TARADELL
Romanesque
Feudalism was a social, political and economic system that was formed in
Western Europe during the ninth and tenth centuries, a few centuries after the
disintegration of the Roman Empire.
Feudalism was characterized by the pacts of vassalage between the feudal
lords and the King of each kingdom that were throughout Western Europe. In
these agreements, the feudal lords promised allegiance to the king in exchange
for economic privileges and power.
Probably, for this reason, one of the great features of this system was the
strong presence that had the Catholic Church, which enjoyed large share of
power in all feudal kingdoms, and which was marked, quite clearly, the life of
everybody.
During the early centuries of feudalism (X-XIII) appeared in all realms, an
artistic, cultural and architectural movement, the Romanesque.
The Romanesque was the first movement since the collapse of the Roman
Empire to have representation across the European territory. It must be said,
therefore, that although this style was present in all European kingdoms, once
introduced unique features in each kingdom.
Although, with this style, several civil and military works were built, the main
theme was the Church, being used to build a large number of monasteries and
churches that are still standing today.
The material used to construct these buildings, in this style, was the stone, a
material characterized by its weight. It is for this reason that the buildings are, in
general, thick walls, often reinforced with buttresses. In addition, another feature
is the low presence of windows in the Romanesque buildings. The few windows
present in these buildings are small openings to let inside these buildings a little
light. In addition, this style reused Roman building techniques, such as arch.
Another feature of the religious buildings of Romanesque style is that all of them
have a bell tower, which is used to call prayer. We can also see how some
churches presents the altar at the east of the building, as it was where entered
the first light of day.
Most of these buildings had a decoration inside and outside. The exterior
decoration has deteriorated with the passage of time, leaving the walls views,
as we know them today.
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There are few buildings that still presented a decoration inside, as in the
nineteenth century there was a big traffic of these decorations, some of which
were sold to private collectors.
Taradell
Taradell is a town located at the southeast of the Plana de Vic. It’s still possible
to find some Romanesque remains in this town.
From COOLTUR we suggest you a tour to know Taradell Romanesque
buildings that still remain in this town.
We will start this tour in the Sant Genís Promenade,
right in front of the church of Sant Genís de Taradell.
Despite having medieval origins, after various
renovations, the main hall of this building was built
during the eighteenth century, designed by the
master builder of Vic Josep Morató.
Turn left along Església Street
20m
Turn right on Campanar Street
70 m
In the back of the current church of Sant
Genís de Taradell we highlight the bell
tower, the element that shows that this church
was built with Romanesque style.
The church of Sant Genis is documented since
the year 950 AD.
The bell tower, built during the eleventh
century, has a strong Lombard style. This bell
tower has six floors, the last of which was
added in the early twentieth century where
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Puig i Cadafalch was commissioned to restore and add a clock for each of the
four sides of the bell tower.
The first floor is the highest of all. We can observe a loophole shaped windows
with blind arcs. On the frieze of blind arches we can observe a saw tooth. We
can see this decoration on the different floors of this bell tower.
Continue straight, north-east along the Campanar Street
37 m
Continue to the left, and cross the Square
38 m
Turn left and continue heading north along Font Street
230m
Turn right on Viladrau Highway
155m
Turn left on Pirineu Street
205m
Turn right on Sardana Street
168m
When Sardana Street becomes President Macià Street turn left and take a
forest track
472m
Continue along the road on the left
191m
We arrive at
Subidarells.
Sant
Quirze
de
This chapel, already documented
since 989 AD, was one of the chapels
attached to the church of Sant Genís
de Taradell.
This chapel, which was restored in
1967, is a single nave, with a single
semicircular apse and barrel vault. Moreover, from the outside we see a belfry
and two small windows.
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Return along the same path
191m
Continue along the road to the right
472m
Take the middle street, les Sitges Street
184m
Cross the road of Viladrau and continue along the Rocaguinarda Street
186m
Continue on the left on Vilanova Street
50m
Turn left on Vic Street
170
Continue straight on Sant Sebastià Street
322m
Turn left along Pompeu Fabra Street
170m
Turn right along Montserrat Street
117m
Turn left and take a forest track
213m
Continue along the road on the left
1.2 km
Continue along the path on the left that will become a path that runs along the
side of a fence
972m
Turn left
315m
Continue along the road to the right
478m
Continue along the road to the right
286 m
We arrive at Castle of Taradell,
also known as Castle Can Boix.
Documented since the year 893
AD, this castle had a military
function. Its location is strategic,
where from its location the Plana
de Vic can be controlled. Thanks
to the various archaeological excavations
that were carried out, now you can see
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the different walls of the different rooms that were part of this castle.
Turn and return the same way
286 m
Continue along the road on the left
478m
Turn left and continue
315m
Turn right and continue along the path that goes around the side of a fence
972 m
Continue along the road to the right
1.2 km
Turn right
213 m
Turn right down the Montserrat Street
117m
Turn left on Pompeu Fabra Street
230 m
Turn right along Villa Street
360m
Turn left along Església Street (half the street cross Domènec Sert Promenade)
111m
We arrive at Sant Genís Promenade
From COOLTUR we hope that you have enjoyed this tour, and you’ll have
a nice day.
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