Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet

At the end of the 12th century and throughout the 13th century, the monastery suffered a period of economic crisis, however, other foundations were made from Poblet: Santa Maria de Piedra, in 1194, where they had a castle. Santa Maria de Benifassà, also a castle of Muslim origin that passed into the hands of Pere de Cervera, later a monk of Poblet who obtained ownership of the place and in 1233 materialised the foundation. Santa Maria la Reial de Mallorca, in operation in 1240. Also, the priories of Sant Vicenç de la Roqueta (Valencia), owned by Poblet from 1288 and that of Natzaret in Barcelona, founded between 1311 and 1312. In addition to these foundations, Poblet had a long series of farms (seventeen), characteristic of Cistercian houses and which allowed for the agricultural exploitation of their possessions. The first monks who came to Poblet probably settled provisionally on the Mitjana farm (to the west of the monastery) while they proceeded to erect the first buildings on the site of the definitive settlement.

Between the 12th and 13th centuries work began on the main cloister, on the south wing and the cloister fountain, the oldest parts. The heating room and the cloister of Sant Esteve were also built in this sector. The magnificent refectory also dates from this period. In the first half of the 13th century, major works were carried out outside the enclosure and the chapel of Santa Caterina was built, possibly used by visitors, who could not access the monastic church at that time, and which later served as a hospital for the poor. The kitchen also dates from the 13th century. To the east of the cloister is the large chapter house, of exceptional beauty; in the same direction are the library (formerly the writing hall) and the old granary, which has a similar structure and is now used as a library. The long dormitory, with slender diaphragm arches, was built on the upper part and is now also used as a library.

Poblet became a royal pantheon, as well as a burial place for other personalities. Alfonso II, son of the founder, was the first monarch to be buried in the monastery (although there is a tombstone in Vilabertran (Alt Empordà), possibly with his entrails). King James I the Conqueror, seeing his death approaching, became a Cistercian monk in 1276, was one of the benefactors of the monastery and was also buried here. Peter the Ceremonious ordered the construction of the royal pantheon (when his predecessors were already buried in the monastic enclosure) and took care to arrange for the construction of the pantheon, in which the great sculptors of the time took part: Aloi de Montbrai and Jaume Cascalls. At that time, the decision was taken to place the tombs on lowered arches located between the columns of the transept.

In 1835, when the community had seventy monks, the monastery was suppressed and its members dispersed, leaving the place in the hands of plunderers, which particularly affected the royal pantheon. This situation was finally stopped by officially protecting the monastery. In 1940 the monastic function was recovered with the arrival of four monks from Italy. Today it has become a cultural and tourist destination, which in turn facilitates its maintenance. In 1991 it was declared a World Heritage Site by Unesco.