SHORT HISTORY

In 1151 king Ramón Berenguer IV presented the Fontfreda abbey (Narbonne) with land to build a Cistercian monastery. There are records that in 1153 there was the first fully constituted community. It was very prosperous during the 12th to 18th centuries, as it was protected by the king –it was chosen as their burial- and the most important noblemen. The community possessed land and buildings throughout Aragón, and the monastery ensemble was enlarged.

From the 18th century the community declined progressively, and in 1835 they were secularized. The monastery’s forced abandonment was followed by its destruction and looting until 1930, when the restoration works began. In 1940 the cistercian monks came back and in 1945 the Poblet Brothership was created.

In 1991 the monastic ensemble was declared World Heritage by the UNESCO.

DESCRIPTION

The monastery is composed of three enclosures. The first is dedicated to industrial and agricultural activities, here you can find the Sant Jordi Chapel (1452), beautiful example of the architecture of the period of Alfonso the Magnanimous.

The Golden Gate (15th century) gives entrance to the second enclosure, where we can find the remains of the ancient Hospital of the Poor, with the Chapel of St. Caterina (1250) and an elegant cross (16th century).

Outside the enclosure is the Abbot Palace (16th century). To enter the third enclosure there is the Royal Door, with two large towers, where you can find the baroque porch of the church (17th century).

The church (12th century) has a basilical plan with three naves separated by cruciform columns. On the side of a magnificent Rennaissance altar-piece there is the Royal pantheon of the Catalan-Aragonese Crown.