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Home | World Heritage Site | Poblet Monastery
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The Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet (Catalan: Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet, Spanish: Real Monasterio de Santa María de Poblet) is a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1151, located in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in Catalonia (Spain). It was founded by Cistercian monks from France. The main architect was Arnau Bargués. It was the royal pantheon of the kings of the Crown of Aragon since James I of Aragon. Closed down due to the State’s laws in 1835, the monastery was refounded in 1940 by Italian monks of the same order. Poblet belongs to the Cistercian Congregation of the Crown of Aragon, along with Santa Maria de Solius and nunneries such as Santa Maria de Vallbona and Santa Maria de Valldonzella. The Abbot of Poblet is the ex officio chairman of the Congregation. Today the monastic community of Poblet is composed of 29 professed monks, 1 regular oblate, 1 novice and 2 familiars. This monastery was the first of three sister monasteries, known as the Cistercian triangle, that helped consolidate power in Catalonia in the 12th century. (The other two are Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus) It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, since 1991. The altar (1527) was sculpted by Damián Forment. |
