Igriș Abbey, Medieval Cistercian monastery in Sânpetru Mare, Romania
Igriș Abbey is a Cistercian monastery in Sânpetru Mare whose stone walls and foundations from the 12th century remain visible today. The layout shows the typical ordered design that was common to monasteries of this religious order.
The monastery was founded in 1179 by King Béla III and served as an important religious center for centuries. After being destroyed during the Mongol invasion of 1241, it was later rebuilt and reinforced with fortifications.
The monastery served as a center for copying and creating manuscripts during the Middle Ages. Today you can sense how important this place was for spreading knowledge across the region.
The site is best explored on foot as the ruins spread across a larger area and take time to understand fully. Sturdy footwear is recommended since the ground is uneven and excavation areas are not always clearly marked.
Archaeological excavations in 2019 uncovered the crypt of King Andrew II, revealing that the site also served as a royal burial place. This showed it held special dynastic importance for the medieval kingdom.
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