Church of St Llorenç prop Bagà (near Berga)
The Monastery of Sant Llorenç prop Bagà lies a kilometre from the town of Guardiola de Berguedà.
The original church, consecrated in 983, had a rectangular plan, and consisted of three naves separated by columns, a main door on the east side, and other side doors that communicated with the monastery buildings.
During the 11th century, two semicircular apsidioles were added to the side aisles, the remains of which were found in excavations carried out in the 1980s.
The most important reform work took place in the 12th century: a rectangular section was added between the apsidioles, forming a central apse; a rostrum was built in the middle of the central nave, and beneath it a crypt was formed, which communicated with the church by means of different staircases.
After further reforms in the 18th and 19th centuries, what has been preserved of the church today is half the size of the original. It has a square plan and is split into two levels; the upper level with two naves and the bottom with three naves covered with groin vaults. The upper floor is used for worship, and the central nave has a barrel vault which incorporates various windows with semicircular arches.
All that is left of the cloister and the monastery buildings are remains of the walls and structures.
Location: A kilometre from the town of Guardiola de Berguedà.