HISTORY

The Santa María de Vallbona Monastery began as mixed groups of hermits, who later became cenobites, organised as double community. The first documented news is from 1153. In 1175 men moved to the Montsant and the community, now only with women, joined the Cistercian Order, with Abbess Ramirez from the Tulebras monastery (Navarra).

Alfonso the 1st the Chaste and queen Sança established their moving court in Vallbona. Jaume the 1st the Conqueror and Alfonso the Wise stayed several times in Vallbona, which soon became inspiration for the troubadors of the times.
Vallbona is and has been a place of contemplative life and a center for culture, work and prayer, at the service of God.

DESCRIPTION

The Monastery of Santa María is made of several monumental buildings:
The temple, with a transition style typical of the Order, has a latin cross plan with only one nave. The inside is astonishing due to its simplicity and light ensemble. There is the grave of Violeta of Hungary, wife of Jaume 1st the Conqueror.

The dome-bell tower is extremely beautiful and is a very advanced work for the Middle Ages.

The cloister is trapeziform and is composed of several styles, which give it an extraordinary variety staying in the mentioned simplicity.

Also to be mentioned are the capitular hall, the cloister’s chapel consecrated to the Virgin and the archives.
Very near you can find the Santuario del Tallat, a Romanesque chapel to which the people of the area have great devotion.