Monestir de Poblet, history

Located in a splendid site of the region of Conca de Barberà, Catalonia, inhabited since the prehistoric times, protected by the mountains from Prades, the monastery of Poblet one of most important and best is preserved world cistercian. If you want to familiarize yourselves with the world cistercian, a remarkable address: http://www.cister.net/disc_larmes.htm

In the middle of the XII ème century, the count of Barcelona Raymond Bérenger IV, which completed the reconquest of the Catalan territory, gave the monks of Fondfroide Hortus populeti (planted ground of poplars) in order to found a monastery there. Twelve monks began grubbing and raised some buildings in 1153, according to the plan of the Benedictines. The axis of the church is of course is/western.

During the last third of the XII ème century, one built the first monumental buildings such as the church, part of the cloister, the refectory, the temple of the fountain and the infirmary. The next century will see to be completed the whole of the regular dependences such as the chapter house, the room of the monks, it to chauffoir, the kitchen, the dormitory and the remainder of the zone of the convers.

Kings d' Aragon did not cease testifying their protection with the monastery. It was, with Santa Creus, their favorite stage between the two capitals of Saragossa and Barcelona, their place of retreat near the abbot, who had load of royal aumonier.

In 1835 the life monacale took brutally fine. The buildings were set fire to, plundered and destroyed. The impressive ruins were protected by the provincial commission from the monuments from Tarragone until creation from royal patronage from Poblet in 1930.

On November 24, 1940, of the monks Italian cistercians took again the life monacale there.