Convento de Santa Maria do Bouro

Convento de Santa Maria do Bouro is a former Cistercian monastery built in stone with large arches, vaulted ceilings, and a central courtyard surrounded by cloisters featuring detailed architectural elements. The layout follows traditional monastic design with zones for the church, living quarters, and work areas.

King Afonso Henriques granted the land to the Benedictine Order in 1148, and around 1195 the monks transitioned it to Cistercian rule under the dedication to Our Lady of Assumption. The monastery reached its peak during the Middle Ages as a spiritual and economic center for the region.

The name Santa Maria do Bouro honors the Virgin Mary and a nearby spring that supplied the monastery for centuries. Visitors can feel the rhythm of monastic life in the cloisters and courtyards, where silence and routine shaped daily existence for generations.

The building now operates as a hotel with 32 rooms, allowing visitors to stay overnight within historic walls and experience the place from the inside. Facilities include an outdoor pool, tennis courts, and a restaurant serving regional dishes, making a stay here comfortable and immersive.

Portuguese architect Eduardo Souto Moura redesigned the crumbling ruins in the 1990s by inserting modern spaces within the ancient walls without demolishing the original structure. His approach shows how contemporary design and historical architecture can share the same space.