How to visit the monastery of Poblet, former Royal Pantheon in Tarragona

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Baroque door of the church of the monastery of Poblet in Tarragona

A trip along the Cistercian Route, in Catalonia, has as main protagonists the Cistercian monasteries What can you visit.

And among these said monasteries of the aforementioned tourist route that covers much of the province of Tarragona the most visited is that of Poblet.

That is why it is logical that on our recent trip the Poblet monastery it was one of the main stages, along with the other monasteries, Santes Creus Y Vallbona de les Monges.

Poblet Monastery in the province of Tarragona

He Poblet monastery you find it in the region of Barberá Basin, almost in the geographical center between the cities of Lleida Y Tarragona, and an hour and a half from Barcelona.

If you are doing the Cistercian Route, I will tell you that the monastery has its location very close to the walled town of Montblanc and of the Caves of L'Espluga de Francolí.

Poblet monastery history

The origins of this Cistercian monastery date back to 1149 when Ramón Berenguer IV He handed it to the monks of a French abbey.

Golden Gate in access to the monastery of Poblet in Tarragona

It was a site that met the standards of the Order of the Cister.

That is, be located in an isolated place, be surrounded by suitable land for agriculture and have a water supply.

Its greatest boom was during the fourteenth century, when it came to house up to 140 monks, plus the brothers laity They worked for them.

It was at that time, specifically in 1340, when Peter the Ceremonious he ordered the monastery to become royal pantheon.

In this way, and until the fifteenth century, it passed to house the graves of the Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona, specifically, up to eight kings and three queens.

In 1835 the Poblet monastery was abandoned after the Confiscation of Mendizábal.

Romanesque door of the cloister of the monastery of Poblet

A century later, in 1930, the reconstruction of the monastery, and after ten years came the first monks of this new era.

Currently in the Poblet monastery 31 Cistercian monks reside, so I anticipate that the visit of their rooms is conditioned by the daily activities of these monks.

What to see in Poblet monastery

When are you arriving at Poblet monastery, from a distance you can see that it is a great monastic enclosure.

Thus, when you start your visit you will see that after passing a first door, you will access a first enclosure with a large esplanade.

In this enclosure highlights the St. George's Chapel, a small building from the mid-fifteenth century, whose gothic door will catch your attention.

Gothic cloister of the monastery of Poblet in Tarragona

This chapel is located next to a second portico of a new walled section, known as the Golden Door, which gives you access to another large esplanade where you will see the church of the monastery.

This church has walls on both sides as a continuation of its facade, which are actually a wall that surrounds the different rooms of what is already the monacal site.

This fortification was commanded to build once the monastery became the Royal Pantheon of the Aragon crown.

You will see that the facade of the church show a great baroque door, but the building actually has its origins in the thirteenth century.

To enter the monacal enclosure you must go through the so-called Royal Gate, from the 14th century.

Lavatory of the cloister of the monastery of Poblet

This access opens between two of the twelve towers that are distributed along the wall that surrounds the aforementioned monacal enclosure.

Inside, the first thing you will see is the old 14th century refectory, which later became a winery to produce wine.

Currently the company Codorniu It is the one that manages the production of the ten hectares of vineyards owned by the Poblet monastery.

The access door to the cloister of the monastery is Romanesque, and said cloister between the twelfth and thirteenth centuries is Gothic, with the capitals of the columns showing a simple plant decoration.

Around the cloister are distributed several dependencies that are still used by monks in their monastic life.

Chapter Hall of the monastery of Poblet in Tarragona

So, you can see the refectory, or dining room, in which the crockery and cutlery is ready to be used in an upcoming meal.

The library It retains the original 13th century ribbed ceiling, although its collection, with more than 100,000 books, dates back to the last and most current stage of the monastery, from 1940.

You can also see the chapter room, which is equipped even with a microphone for reading that the monks make a chapter of the St. Benedict's Rule, which regulates his monastic life.

You will also see other rooms that are no longer used, such as the old kitchen or an old bedroom room where the monks slept on the floor on straw beds.

On one side of the cloister you find the large temple that covers the fountain used as a lavatory by the monks.

Main altar of the church of the monastery of Poblet

Finally you will enter the church, a three-nave building with a cruise, in which the Romanesque and Gothic style are combined.

Thus, the lateral ships present vaults of crucería and the central one, of pointed cannon.

You will be struck by the imposing alabaster altarpiece made in 1529 during the reign of Carlos I, although in reality it is a reconstruction of the twentieth century because the original was almost destroyed after the abandonment of the monastery.

Now, the most distinctive element of the monastery church is undoubtedly the set formed by the royal graves located in two large blocks on both sides in the center of the cruise.

In addition, in other places of the church and the monastery there are graves of noblemen and abbots.

Altarpiece of the church of the monastery of Poblet

Schedules visit Poblet monastery

The visiting hours of the monastery of Poblet they are, from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 12.30 pm, and from 3 pm to 5.50 pm.

In winter, from mid-October to mid-March, the monastery closes in the afternoon at 5.25 pm.

On Sundays and holidays the visiting hours are throughout the year from 10.30 to 12.25 hours, and from 15 to 17.25 hours.

Here you can check the days with special schedule To visit the monastery.

Royal Tombs in the church of the monastery of Poblet

Ticket prices monastery Poblet

The ticket prices They are, generally, 7.50 euros, and with guided tour, 10 euros.

There is also a reduced ticket for people over 65, students and teachers with a card, young people with a young card, large families and unemployed people, which costs 4 euros (7 euros with a guide).

How to get to the Monastery of Poblet

He Poblet monastery It is located an hour and a half by car, west of Barcelona, ​​and 40 minutes northwest of the city of Tarragona.

Pictures Monastery of Poblet

Here you have more Photos of the Monastery of Poblet, to visit in the province of Tarragona.




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