How to visit and what to see in Poblet Monastery (Tarragona): schedules, prices

Un trip along the Cistercian Route, riding a Catalonia, has as its main protagonists the cistercian monasteries What can you visit.

And among these monasteries of the aforementioned tourist route that covers a large part of the Tarragona province the most visited is village.

Therefore it was logical that on our most recent trip through this area of Catalonia el poblet monastery was one of the main stages, along with the other monasteries, Santes Creus y Vallbona de les Monges.

El poblet monastery you find it in the region of Barberá Basin, almost in the geographical center between the cities of Lleida y Tarragona, and an hour and a half from Barcelona.

If you're doing the Cistercian Route, I will tell you that the monastery is located very close to the walled town of Montblanc and Caves of L´Espluga de Francolí.

Curiosities history of the Poblet monastery

The origins of this Cistercian monastery They date back to 1149 when Ramon Berenguer IV He gave it to the monks of a French abbey.

It was a location that met the standards of the Cistercian order.

That is, be located in an isolated place, be surrounded by land suitable for agriculture and have a water supply.

Its greatest boom occurred during the 140th century, when it housed up to XNUMX monks, plus the brothers laity who worked for them.

When the Poblet monastery became the Royal Pantheon

It was at that time, specifically in 1340, when Peter the Ceremonious ordered the monastery to become Royal pantheon.

In this way, and until the 15th century, it began to house the tombs of the Kings of Aragon and Counts of Barcelona, specifically, until eight kings and three queens.

In 1835 the poblet monastery was abandoned after Disentailment of Mendizábal.

A century later, in 1930, the reconstruction of the monastery, and after ten years the first monks of this new era arrived.

Currently in the poblet monastery 31 Cistercian monks reside there, so I can tell you that visiting their rooms is conditioned by the daily activities of these monks.

What to see when visiting the Poblet monastery in Tarragona

When you are arriving at poblet monastery, from a distance you can see that it is a large monastic enclosure.

Thus, when you start your visit you will see that after passing a first door, you will access a first area with a large esplanade.

In this area, the St. George's Chapel, a small building from the mid-15th century, which will draw your attention to its gothic door.

This chapel is located next to a second portico of a new walled section, known as the Golden Door, which gives you access to another large esplanade where you will see the monastery church.

This church has walls on both sides as a continuation of its façade, which are actually a wall that surrounds the different rooms of what is now the monastic enclosure.

This fortification was ordered to be built once the monastery became the Royal pantheon for the Crown of Aragon.

You will see that the facade of the iglesia shows a great baroque door, but the building actually has its origins in the 13th century.

Royal Gate of the Monastery of Poblet

To enter the monastic precinct you must go through the so-called Puerta Real, from the 14th century.

This access opens between two of the twelve towers that are distributed along the wall that surrounds the aforementioned monastic enclosure.

Inside, the first thing you will see is the old refectory from the 14th century, which later became a winery to produce wine.

Currently the company quail is the one that manages the production of the ten hectares of vineyards owned by the poblet monastery.

Cloister of the Poblet Monastery

The access door to monastery cloister is romantic style, and said cloister from between the 12th and 13th centuries is Gothic style, with the capitals of the columns showing a simple vegetal decoration.

Around the cloister there are several rooms that continue to be used by the monks in their monastic life.

Thus, you will be able to see the refectory, or dining room, in which the crockery and cutlery is ready to be used for an upcoming meal.

La library It preserves the original ribbed ceiling from the 100.000th century, although its collection, with more than 1940 books, dates back to the last and most current stage of the monastery, from XNUMX.

Chapter House of the Monastery of Poblet

You can also see the chapter house, which is even equipped with a microphone for the reading that the monks do every day of a chapter of the rule of Saint Benedict, which regulates his monastic life.

You will also see other rooms that are no longer used, such as the old kitchen or an old sleeping room where monks slept on the floor on straw beds.

On one side of the cloister you find the great temple which covers the fountain used as a washbasin by the monks.

You will finally enter the church, a building with three naves with a transept, in which the Romanesque and Gothic styles.

Thus, the side naves have ribbed vaults and the central one has a pointed barrel.

You will be struck by the imposing alabaster altarpiece made in 1529 during the reign of Carlos I, although in reality it is a reconstruction from the 20th century since the original was almost destroyed after the monastery was abandoned.

Royal Pantheon in Poblet Monastery

Now, the most distinctive element of the Poblet monastery church It is, without a doubt, the set formed by the royal tombs located in two large blocks on both sides in the center of the transept.

Furthermore, in other places in the church and monastic precinct there are tombs of nobles and abbots.

Poblet monastery visit schedules

The Visiting hours of the Poblet monastery They are, from Monday to Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 12,30:15 p.m. and 18 p.m. to XNUMX p.m.

On Saturdays and Sundays the monastery is open for visits from 10,30:12,30 a.m. to 15:18 p.m. and from XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX p.m.

In the summer period, from mid-June to mid-September, the monastery closes half an hour later in the afternoons, at 18,30:XNUMX p.m.

• Here you can check the most up-to-date information on the Poblet monastery schedules.

Poblet monastery ticket prices

The ticket prices The general price is 8,50 euros, with a reduced ticket of 6,50 euros for people over 65, students and teachers with a card, young people with a youth card, large families and unemployed people.

The visit can be done with a app that you download to your mobile.

Map: how to get to the Poblet Monastery

El poblet monastery It is located an hour and a half by car, west of Barcelona, ​​and 40 minutes northwest of the city of Tarragona.

Photos of the Poblet Monastery

Here you have more photos of the Poblet Monastery, to visit in the Tarragona province.