LEISURE OFFER _ CULTURAL ROUTES _ THE CISTERCIAN ROUTE _
|
The Cistercian Route encompasses 65 towns of the comarcas (counties) of the Conca de Barberá , the Alt Camp and Urgell . These comarcas occupy a prominent position in the artistic and cultural heritage of Catalonia, comprising the most varied architectural styles, from austere Romanesque to slender Gothic to the heights of Renaissance art, Baroque and finally true Modernism. The monasteries of Poblet , Santes Creus and Vallbona de les Monges , founded in the 12th century, constitute some of the most outstanding Cistercian buildings in Europe.
| Monasterie of Santa María de Poblet |
|
|
|
|
The monastery of Santa María de Poblet is located in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, at the foot of the northern slopes of the Prades mountain range; set in a beautifully scenic spot of strong-flowing streams and the rich and luxuriant vegetation of the great wooded mass of Poblet forest, once one of the many possessions of the monastery. Poblet is an impressive architectural group of buildings and is considered to be one of the most important monastic monuments in Europe. The church was built during the time of Alfonso I, between 1162 and 1196, and its elegant ambulatory aisle with five radial chapels distinguishes it from the more characteristic austerity of other Cistercian works of art.
|
| Monasterie of Santa María de Vallbona |
|
|
|
|
The monastery of Santa María de Vallbona, the most important Cistercian nunnery in Catalonia, with a continuity of religious life stretching back more than eight centuries, is located in the southern part of the Urgell comarca in the Baja Segarra. The architectural whole, constructed and renovated over very different eras, possesses a nobility and magnificence which sets it apart from the majority of Cistercian nunneries. The abbatial church, built mainly over the 13th and 14th centuries, is a good example of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic and in the presbytery the beautiful sepulchres of Queen Violante of Hungary (d. 1251), the wife of Jaime I, and of their daughter Sancha de Aragón, are noteworthy.
|
| Monasterie of Santes Creus |
|
|
|
|
The monastery of Santes Creus is located in the Alt Camp comarca in the municipality of Aiguamúrcia, the most northerly sector of the Camp de Tarragona. Constructed in a valley close to the river Gaià, it is a harmonious spot where the poplars and hazelnut trees along the river contrast with the vineyards and almond groves surrounded by olive trees where the valley opens up, with scattered copses in an  evidently Mediterranean landscape. As in the case of Poblet, the chronology of construction extends from the 12th to the 18th century, in accordance with the progression and the needs of the monastery. The church, begun in 1174 and opened for worship in 1211 while it was still unfinished, follows the "Bernadine plan", with a Latin cross floor layout and five square absidial chapels. |
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
HOTELS IN SALOU_
Up to 10 hotels, aparthotels and some apartment complexes mean we can offer accommodation for everyone's taste and in the desired area.
|
BOOK NOW !
| Select the dates of your stay and reserve in this hotel comfortable with our on-line booking system |
|
|
THE WEATHER_
In summer, the average temperatures reach a minimum of 21º C and a maximum of 28º C and a gentle breeze keeps the atmosphere fresh. Winters are very mild, with clear, sunny days, all of which makes the whole coast into one of the most desirable spots to spend an unforgettable holiday.
|
