The Benedictine monastery of Sant Esteve is the oldest standing religious building in Banyoles, its origins in the 8th century predating much of Catalonia's better-known monastic heritage. The current building is primarily Romanesque and Gothic, rebuilt in stages from the 12th century onward, with a fine Gothic cloister and a Romanesque apse at its oldest core.
Inside, the altarpiece is a 15th-century polyptych by Joan Antigó depicting the life of Saint Stephen — considered one of the better examples of Gothic altarpiece painting in the Girona region. The church still functions as a parish church, which means it feels lived-in rather than museified.
The monastery stands just off the Plaça Major in the old town, two minutes on foot from the lake. Access to the cloister is usually possible during opening hours; the church itself is open for visits.