Former Spanish monastery built in 830 finally visible after ‘exceptional’ drought leaves reservoir empty


Photos of an old monastery on display in Spain highlight just how critical the country’s drought has become.

The Benedictine monastery of Sant Salvador de la Vedella in Catalonia, Spain, was built in 830.

It is the only building from the old town of Sant Salvador de la Vedella that remains standing.

In 1976, the town was flooded by the Baells reservoir.

Since then, the monastery has normally been surrounded by water, which can be reached by kayak when the reservoir is full and on foot when it is low.

Now the tank is completely empty.

The “shocking” images from the Catalan Water Agency are a grim reminder that “we are in the exceptional phase,” the agency said.

A 2017 Instagram post shows what the remarkable monastery looks like when surrounded by water.

Drought levels in Spain reached “exceptional” levels in March, threatening access to drinking water for 6 million people in the Barcelona metropolitan area.

In Catalonia, about 75 kilometers north of Barcelona, ​​the situation is critical, since the average levels of the reservoirs are around 27% of their capacity.

There are restrictions on the agricultural and industrial use of water, and it is prohibited to use potable water for washing cars or filling swimming pools.


The monastery is the only building from the old town of Sant Salvador de la Vedella that remains standing.
Anadolu Agency via Getty Images

Aerial view of the partially submerged church of Sant Roma, visible due to the low water level of the Sau reservoir.
Aerial view of the partially submerged church of Sant Roma, visible due to the low water level of the Sau reservoir.
AFP via Getty Images

Ruined houses of Sant Roma de Sau on the dry shores of the Sau reservoir, located in the province of Girona in Catalonia on April 16.
Ruined houses of Sant Roma de Sau on the dry shores of the Sau reservoir on April 16.
AFP via Getty Images

People look at a ruined house of Sant Roma de Sau on the dry shores.
People look at a ruined house in Sant Roma de Sau.
AFP via Getty Images

Meanwhile, Spain as a whole has warmed 1.3 degrees Celsius (2 Fahrenheit) since the 1960s, the Associated Press reports.

It is a phenomenon that is noticeable throughout the year, but especially in summer, when average temperatures have risen 1.6 degrees.



Leave a Comment