Poblet Monastery, Cistercian monastery in Vimbodí i Poblet, Spain.
Poblet Monastery is a Cistercian abbey built from stone at the foot of the Prades Mountains, featuring multiple courtyards contained within a fortified layout. The complex preserves the characteristic structure of a medieval monastery with cloister, church, and monastic quarters.
The abbey was founded in 1151 by Cistercian monks from France and later became a royal burial site for Aragonese rulers. Beginning with King James I, the kings chose this monastery as their pantheon, elevating its importance.
The alabaster royal tombs display intricate stonework with lions at the feet of kings and dogs at the feet of queens. These burial monuments shape the character of the monastery and reveal the close relationship between the church and royal power.
The monastery can be explored via pathways that wind through the fortification and provide access to the main buildings. It helps to allow time for the different areas, especially the church and burial chamber, which reward closer attention.
The site is home to an active community of monks who continue their prayers and daily work according to medieval rules. This living monastic presence makes the place more than a historical site, but a location where monastic life continues to be lived today.
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