Museu Diocesà d'Urgell

About the museum

The museum was created in 1957, during the episcopate of Ramon Iglesias Navarri, from an exhibition of sacred art with pieces from the cathedral treasury, installed in the Sala Capitular (chapter house). It was the last diocesan collection to be formed in Catalonia. It opened with about fifty works from the cathedral and from the church of the Pietat, under the direction of Mn. Pau Vidal.

In the 1960s and 1970s the holdings grew with documents from the chapter archive, the Beatus, the bull of Pope Sylvester II and objects from parishes in the diocese. In 1969 new rooms were opened in the church of the Pietat, and in 1988 the present facilities were inaugurated, with the permanent exhibition extended into the former Deganat building and the Fátima chapel.

Today the museum occupies the former Deganat and the chapel of the Pietat, and the visit is completed with the 12th-century cloister, surrounded by 51 carved capitals, the church of Sant Miquel, documented since the 10th century, and the Romanesque cathedral of Santa Maria. The collection brings together pieces from the cathedral and from the parishes of the diocese, from the Romanesque to the 20th century: painting and sculpture, goldsmithing, reliquaries and altarpieces.

Highlights

• Beatus of La Seu d'Urgell and bull of Pope Sylvester II
• Altarpiece of the Pietat and the Dormition group by Jeroni Xanxo
• Chalice and paten from Núria
• Altarpiece of the Goigs of the Virgin of Abella de la Conca
• 12th-century cloister with 51 carved capitals

Permanent exhibition

• Colección permanente del Museo Diocesano – Pieces from the cathedral and the diocesan parishes, from the Romanesque to the 20th century: the Beatus, Gothic altarpieces, goldsmithing, reliquaries and Romanesque sculpture.

Founded

1957

Operated by

Patronat del Museu Diocesà d'Urgell (Bisbat d'Urgell)

Admission & discounts

Free admission for guides and teachers accompanying a group, residents of Alt Urgell, and members of the Associació de Museòlegs de Catalunya and ICOM.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials
• Audio description: no information

The reception point is in the lobby, reached by two very steep ramps; a lift serves all floors and another lift goes up to the Pietat chapel, whose handrails have braille markers. Several rooms have easy-read labels. The cloister is reached from the museum by two ramps that overcome one step, and there is an accessible toilet there; the toilets on the museum's ground floor are not accessible. The church of Sant Miquel is not accessible by wheelchair (five steps). There is one reserved parking space on calle Major, 1. The museum states that it is still working to improve accessibility.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The website offers one visit format for families and another for schools.

Getting there & parking

The museum entrance is on the Plaza del Deganat: you have to go around the cathedral to reach it.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

Shop and ticket sales in the museum lobby. It is advisable to bring a coat for much of the year, as the spaces are large.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit