Historical origin of the Canonical church
The Canonical church of Sant Vicenç has its origin in the chapel of the Castle of Cardona. The first written records found are present in the Cardona’s charter of settlement, which dates from 980. Between 1029 and 1040 a new church was built on the castle’s former chapel. Once finished, the church was consecrated by Eriball, Bishop of Urgell and Lord of the Sant Vicenç church.
Medieval history of the Canonical church
In 1019 Viscount Bermon had the church rebuilt following the Abbot Oliba’s counsel. Ten years later, the same year he died, he also had the renovation of the current Romanesque building started.
In the 10th century there was a small community of regular canons. Along with Viscount Bermon’s rebuilding, the Rule of Aquisgrà was introduced. The Aachen community was composed of twelve canons, the Abbot and a few priests. In 1090 Ramon Folch II, Viscount and Bishop of Cardona, imposed the Rule of Sant AgustÃ.
Modern history of the Canonical church
During the 14th, 15th and 16th centuries, canonical life all around the peninsula declined. Those were days of neglect, which mainly came from the community itself. Abbots only cared about income collection and rule governance.
In order to solve this problem, Felip II ordered to securalize canonical churches and monasteries. Sant Vicenç was not an exception and it was secularized by the Pope in 1592. The canons decreased in number.
During the War of Succession -1705 to 1714- the religious community abandoned the canonical church, this latter assuming several roles, such as soldier housing, hospital and gunpowder magazine.
Contemporary history of the Canonical church
Its religious function soon returned to normal and lasted until 1794, when the canons moved to the Sant Miquel de Cardona’s parish. Sant Vicenç definitely stopped functioning as a church and assumed the new role of military barracks.
During the Spanish Civil War-1936 to 1939- Sant Vicenç served as a prison for the Republican side.
Sant Vicenç was acknowledged as Historical and Artistic Monument in 1931. Twenty years later, in 1952, the church was restored, and in 1976 both the monastery and the castle became a parador. Between 1986 and 1998, the courtyard and the Gothic cloister were restored, too.