Abadía de Viaceli, Cistercian monastery in Cóbreces, Spain
The Abadía de Viaceli is a Cistercian monastery near the Cantabrian coast in Cóbreces, Spain, with Gothic Revival architecture made of reinforced concrete. The building has simple lines and was constructed between 1906 and 1910 using sturdy, modern building methods.
French Cistercian monks founded the monastery in the early 1900s following a donation from the Bernaldo de Quirós family. The foundation was part of a wave of monastery establishments that brought new religious communities to northern Spain.
The monastery follows Cistercian traditions with daily chanting and silent reflection that structure life here. The monks farm the land and make cheese, which you can observe as part of the monastic daily routine.
The site is accessible year-round, though guided tours can be arranged by contacting the monastery in advance. The location sits in a quiet area with good paths for exploring the buildings and gardens.
The monastery was one of Spain's first buildings constructed with reinforced concrete, making it a milestone in building history. This construction method was rarely used at the time and showed the founders' willingness to embrace modern techniques.
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