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

If you dare to do the Cistercian Route en Catalonia, one of the key stages will be the visit of the Monastery of Santes Creus.

In fact, on the trip I recently took to see the best corners of said cultural route, among which are, for example, the Poblet monastery or the town of Montblanc. , Santes Creus It became one of the most interesting moments.

Located in the municipal area of aiguamurcia, In the Tarragona province, Monastery of Santa María de Santes Creus is a cistercian abbey which was built in the year 1168.

Abandoned in 1835 after the Disentailment of Mendizábal, at the beginning of the 20th century it was declared National Monument, and today it is one of the best preserved Cistercian monastic complexes.

It is also the only one of the monasteries of the Cistercian Route in which there is no monastic life.

Curiosities history of the Santes Creus Monastery

In the 12th century the current settlement of Santes Creus It was a border land between Christians and Muslims, and after its reconquest by the Christian nobles, it was ceded to the cistercian monks that came from an abbey Toulouse, South of France.

Its definitive location was promoted in 1160 by the count of Barcelona, Ramon Berenguer IV, On the banks of Gaya River.

In this way the cistercian monks They complied with one of the rules of the Rule of Saint Benedict for the construction of the monasteries, which had to be far from large population centers to facilitate retreat.

El Monastery of Santes Creus It follows other rules, such as that the church has to face north and the cloister faces south, and also the church must have a very austere decoration, only with geometric elements.

The capitals are decorated with plant motifs and light arches are used to support the ceilings.

From the beginning of its history, this monastery maintained a competition with the nearby Poblet monastery to become the headquarters of the royal tombs.

In fact in Santes Creus are the tombs of two kings, Peter the Great y James II, as well as the tombs of the latter's wife, White of Navarre, And Admiral Roger de LLuria.

But from 1340 Peter the Ceremonious decided that the kings of Aragon They were buried in Poblet.

What to see when visiting the Santes Creus Monastery

When you arrive to visit Santes Creus You discover that it is a large area of ​​buildings that you will have to access after passing under two porticos.

When you cross the first portico under a building with sgraffito facades, you access a small room with houses from what would be the town of Santa Creus.

Royal Arch in Santes Creus monastery

And from there, passing under the gate of the Assumption o Royal Arch, you enter a large rectangular square with the monastery grounds in the background, the church in the foreground, and on one side, the abbey palace that until the 14th century was Royal Palace.

For the Puerta Real de romantic style You enter the monastery grounds.

Your visit begins with a very interesting multimedia presentation, the Cistercian World, during which you will not only get to know the monastery but, above all, the keys to the arrival of the Cistercian monks to that region and what their lifestyle was.

Gothic cloister in Santes Creus monastery

During the visit itself to the monastery, you will first access a gothic cloister which in the 13th century was built on the initial Romanesque cloister of the building.

This cloister is decorated with sculptures of kings, and in it stands out the lavatory temple original that the Romanesque cloister had.

Chapter room of the Santes Creus monastery

You will also be struck by the chapter house, a large room with a ribbed vault ceiling and, on the floor, tombs of abbots from between the 16th and 17th centuries.

From this cloister you will also access the enormous enclosure that was the monks dormitoryAs well as refectory which in 1733 was renovated with tile decoration on the walls and floors.

Church of the Santes Creus monastery

La church of the monastery of Santes Creus It is mostly romantic style. With great austerity, his stained glass windows stand out and, among them, a large rose window with original stained glass.

But above all, the majestic gothic tomb of Peter the Great, of 1307, which, as a curiosity, was opened in 2009.

And on the opposite side, the white marble tomb James III And his wife, built in 1306.

Tu visit to the Monastery of Santes Creus you will complete it by going through a second gothic style cloister which was built later, and the cemetery which is located behind the church.

Visiting times for the Santes Creus Monastery

The Visiting hours of the Monastery of Santes Creus They are, from June to September, from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 18,30:10 p.m.; and the rest of the year, from 17 a.m. to XNUMX p.m.

El monastery is closed to visits on non-holiday Mondays and on December 25 and 26 and January 1 and 6.

Santes Creus monastery ticket prices

The ticket prices They are, generally, 6 euros; and the reduced one, 4 euros, from which pensioners, seniors +65, people with disabilities and young students or with a youth card benefit.

How to visit the Santes Creus monastery for free

They can visit the Santes Creus monastery for free throughout the year, children under 16 years of age and unemployed people, among other groups.

La Admission is free for all audiences the last Tuesday of each month, between October 1 and June 30.

Photos Santes Creus Monastery

Here you have more photos of the Monastery of Santes Creus, to visit in the Cistercian Route in the province of Tarragona.

Map: how to get to Santes Creus Monastery

El monastery of Santes Creus You can find it half an hour by car from Tarragona, heading north towards the interior, and 110 kilometers, just over an hour, from Barcelona.