Sant Celdoni i Sant Ermenter de Cellers

Sant Celdoni i Sant Ermenter de Cellers is a former Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Torà, in the Segarra region of Catalonia. Protected as a cultural property of national interest, it sits at the far end of the Cellers valley, roughly 9 km from the town centre, in a quiet rural setting well off the usual tourist trail.

What's the story behind it?

The place name Cellers is first recorded in a land donation from the year 986, and the toponym itself points to a cluster of monastic cells or hermitages that once surrounded an older church dedicated to Sant Celdoni. Local tradition holds that the relics of the martyrs Celedonius and Emeterius were brought here by their followers from Calahorra, in La Rioja, while fleeing the Arab invasion of the Iberian Peninsula.

The monastic community itself is documented for the first time in 1038, when the church of Sant Martí de Cellers was granted to the monks Guillem and Sunifred and to the priest Galí. Over the following decades a small Benedictine community took shape, and in 1070 it came under the authority of the monastery of Sant Serni de Tavèrnoles, continuing on as a modest priory.

What will you actually see?

The centrepiece of the complex is a Romanesque church, around which the remaining monastic buildings are arranged. Look out for the so-called House of the Saints (Casa dels Sants), two internal courtyards, and the former rectory. The whole ensemble keeps the plain, austere character typical of small rural monastic foundations in the Segarra and neighbouring Solsonès areas — there's no architectural excess here, just the authentic feel of a site with over a thousand years of continuous history.

How do you get there?

Torà is the natural starting point: a local road runs from the town centre into the Cellers valley, and a car is by far the easiest way to cover the distance. Given how remote the site is, it's worth setting aside at least half a day for the drive out, the visit itself, and the return trip. This is a destination for travellers after quiet and history rather than a quick stop on a packed sightseeing route.

When's the best time to visit?

Spring and early autumn suit the trip best, when temperatures across the Segarra plateau are mild and the surrounding hills are green. Summers can get hot, and winter can make the access road less comfortable to drive. Because the site is isolated and doesn't run as a staffed tourist attraction, it's worth checking current access conditions before setting out.

Frequently asked questions

Is the monastery still an active religious community? No — it no longer functions as an active monastic community. Today it stands mainly as a historical monument that can be visited as a window into the region's medieval past.

Where does the name come from? From Saints Celdoni and Ermenter (Celedonius and Emeterius), whose relics are said to have been brought here from Calahorra during the period of Arab incursions.

Do you need to hike in to reach it? No, a local access road leads directly to the monastery, though it's a minor rural road that calls for careful driving.

Is it worth combining with other stops around Torà? Yes — Torà and the wider Segarra area have other historic sites and typical inland-Catalan landscapes worth exploring, so it makes sense to plan a fuller day trip around the area rather than visiting the monastery alone.