Cistercian Route (GR-175)

The Cistercian Route is an important cultural tourism offer in Catalonia, in the counties of Alt Camp and Conca de Barberà (Tarragona) and Urgell (Lleida). It takes its name from the artistic and cultural heritage of each of these counties, each of which has a Cistercian monastery.

ItineraryThe route is a circular route with a total length of 105 kilometres (108 kilometres for cyclists). 

1. From Santes Creus to Poblet
2. From Poblet to Vallbona de les Monges
3. From Vallbona de les Monges to Santes Creus

The monasteries, founded in the 12th century, were the official pantheons of the kings of the Crown of Aragon for more than three centuries. The monastery of Poblet (Conca de Barberà) is the largest inhabited Cistercian complex in Europe, and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. The monastery of Santes Creus (Alt Camp) is the only monastery on the Cistercian Route that does not currently have a monastic life. The monastery of Vallbona (Urgell) stands out for its uninterrupted female monastic activity for more than 800 years.

The three Cistercian monasteries are connected by means of the Cistercian Route, created in 1989, which aims to raise awareness of the customs, culture, gastronomy, tradition and heritage surrounding these enclaves.

Monastery of Poblet (Tarragona)

Poblet is the largest monastery on the Cistercian Route and of the two male monasteries it is the only one that maintains a community of monks. Poblet is an obligatory reference point in the history of the Crown of Aragon. Located in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, the Monastery of Poblet (officially called the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet) was founded thanks to a donation made by Ramon Berenguer when this region, the Cuenca de Barberà, began a process of repopulation. Founded in 1150, its history was interrupted in 1853 as a result of the disentailment of Mendizábal.

This monastery was built according to the classic structure of the Cistercian order, that is, a building made up of a total of three enclosures, one that served as a hospital for the poor, guest quarters and storerooms, another for the servants of the monastery, and another for monastic life.

From the end of the 14th century, the Monastery of Poblet was the royal pantheon of the Crown of Aragon until its extinction, and in 1835 it was abandoned. Today, and since 1935, it has been included in the UNESCO list as a World Heritage Site, one of the few Spanish monasteries that can enjoy this title, together with the monastery of Poblet. GuadeloupeSan Millán de Yuso and Suso, and El Escorial.

Through the call Porta Reial we arrive at the Major ChurchOriginally a Romanesque temple with some Baroque extensions. Inside, we can highlight its main altarpiece, a work by the Valencian sculptor Damià Forment.

With the return of the monks to Poblet in 1940, an ambitious restoration and conservation project was launched, which has restored the monastery to its former majesty.
From the Royal Gate, a guided tour begins, lasting approximately one hour, through the different rooms that make up the former enclosure.

Monastery of Santes Creus (Tarragona)

Of the three Cistercian monasteries, Santes Creus is the one that most faithfully reproduces the Bernadine construction plan. Founded in 1150 and established in Santes Creus from 1160 onwards, the monastery went through various glorious stages until 1835, when the monks were definitively exclaustrated.

It is currently the only monastery on the Cistercian Route that does not have a monastic life, which allows visitors to explore every corner of this splendid monastery, which preserves the most vivid memory of its history in every stone. There are guides who explain the history and the different legends that surround the monastery.

Monastery of Vallbona (Lleida)

The first records of the monastery of Vallbona date back to 1153, but it was not until 1176 that it was fully integrated into the Cistercian order. It is the only female monastery on the route and is the only one that has maintained the community uninterruptedly for more than 800 years, except in times of war.

Vallbona is a beautiful monastery, small in size and endowed with a singular beauty. It is the clearest example of the importance of women in medieval times. The monastery is notable for its two Gothic dome towers, the largest of which rests its full weight on the nave of the church.

One of the most important features of the monastery is that it offers comfortable accommodation. It was declared an artistic monument in 1931.