The order of St. Benedict, which had entered Catalan lands during the period of Carolingian rule, founded almost 150 monasteries between the 8th and the 12th centuries. Important Benedictine monasteries include Cuixà, Ripoll, Sant Pere de Rodes, Sant Joan de les Abadesses, Montserrat, Sant Benet de Bages and Sant Cugat del Vallès. The communities were governed by a rule that emphasised poverty, work and prayer. The monasteries promoted the repopulation of large tracts of land, and in the 11th century became large feudal domains. They were also centres for creating and passing on culture, Ripoll being a prime exponent of this.