If you don’t know what to do in Solsona, and you want to discover this town, from COOLTUR Cultural Tourism we recommend you to visit the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona!
Solsona is the capital of the Solsonès region, a region located in the Leridan Pyrenees. Moreover, Solsona is also the seat of the Bishopric of Solsonès, a bishopric created in 1593.
One of the most special features of Solsona is the culture and heritage it preserves. Among the streets of this municipality you can discover a large number of very rich heritage elements. Of particular note are Solsona Cathedral, the city walls, the Hotel Sant Roc…
Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona
The Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona is located in the Església Square, in the town centre of Solsona.
Solsona is one of the episcopal seats of Catalonia. This bishopric was created, at the request of King Philip II of Castile in 1593, by Pope Clement VIII. The intention was to prevent the advance of the Huguenots across the French border. This new bishopric built the cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona on the site of the old 12th-century Romanesque church. Previously, there had also been an 11th-century church on this site, and a 10th-century church.
Main door of the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona (Photo: COOLTUR Cultural Tourism)
The current building of the cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona is Gothic in style, consisting of a single nave covered with a ribbed vault. The semicircular apses from the Romanesque period are still preserved in this nave. The high altar of the cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona is covered by a baldachin, surrounded by the heart of the canons.
During the 17th century, the current transept was built, where the Baroque altar of the Mercè has been preserved. We can also see the chapel of the Virgin of the Cloister, in which a Romanesque image is preserved.
In addition, between the buttresses of the central nave we can also see the altars of Saint Anthony, the Rosary, Saint Teresa and Saint Joseph, as well as the Baroque altarpiece of Saint Martin of Riner. The cathedral also houses an organ from 1853 by Gaietà Vilardebó.
Entrance of the Assumption of the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona (Photo: COOLTUR Cultural Tourism)
There are two entrances to the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona. One door, located in Palau square, is in the Baroque style. This façade was built in 1769. The north entrance, on the other hand, is in a markedly neoclassical style, where there is a relief of Saint Augustine in ecstasy.
Inside the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona you can also see the cathedral’s cloister. Originally, this was a Romanesque cloister, with a marked Toulouse influence. It must be said, therefore, that this Romanesque cloister was mutilated in an 18th-century reform. In this reform, the arches and pillars of the gallery were replaced by neoclassical ones. Despite the renovation, we can still see a first floor in the late Gothic style.
Door of the cloister of the Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona (Photo: COOLTUR Cultural Tourism)
One of the curiosities of the cloister of the cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona, which was rediscovered between 1949-51, is the Romanesque doorway. This doorway is attributed to Pere Coma, who was responsible for the construction of the Seu Vella de Lleida. This Romanesque doorway is made up of archivolts supported by columns. The columns have capitals with vegetal decoration, and the archivolts are decorated with geometric shapes.
(Cover image: Cathedral of Santa Maria de Solsona Photo: COOLTUR Cultural Tourism)
How to get to Solsona
Solsona is the capital of the Solsonès region. To get to Solsona you can use the C-55 and C-26 roads, among others.
You can also get to this municipality by public transport. In this case, we recommend that you check the timetables before setting off on your journey!