Route by the Cister

 The proposed route allows visitors to discover the three monasteries that form the Cistercian Route and at the same time, introduces the three regions of inland Catalonia can admire the scenery, enjoy your kitchen and walk through their villages. Course: Urgell - Conca de Barberá - High Camp. Tarrega You get the A-2 from Lleida and Barcelona. The old town still retains some locks and towers of the ancient wall and its central church of Santa Maria de Alba, erected in the second half-century Century in neoclassical style. Before the church, the square, there is a transept rebuilt, of exuberant decoration, attributed to Peter John. Carmen street, which connects the square with the Courtyard, is the Palace of the Marquis de La Floresta, a restored Romanesque building, now headquarters of the Employers Mutual Tarrega. The main street is the most typical of the city gives the hospital, 1740, annexed to the church of Sant Antoni, a former room-century hospital XIV. Mention must also house the city's 1674, and the cloister of the convent of Carmen, the s. Seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Take the A-2 to the west and break the N-IIa to Bellpuig. Bellpuig It kept the castle ruins and remains of the medieval wall. The parish church of St Nicholas houses the tomb of Ramon Cardona Fulk, the largest mausoleum of the Catalan Renaissance. We should also note the convent of St. Bartholomew. Take the LP-2015 at noon, crossing Belianes and Maldà, followed by the LP-2335 to Vallbona. Vallbona In this population, there will be a stop for lunch and visit the Cistercian monastery of the same name. It was founded in the first half-century XII and became the most important female monastery the Crown of Aragon. The first three centuries, the community had extraordinarily expansive force. The set of dimensions less than or Poblet, Santes Creus, was built between c. XII and XIV. The monastery is a typical example of the art of transition, with Romanesque characteristics, such as the Latin cross plan, the portal and the apse of the church. The transition seen in the Gothic vaults of the cloister and the dome of the crossing. The bloom is present Gothic windows in the roof of the church, the gallery of the cloister and the magnificent dome-century bell XIV. Today still primitive and austere air is calm and collected in one place, with a privileged environment. It continues along the same road LP-2335 and ends at the C-14 takes you to the left and, immediately, turn right to the T-233 to Sarral. Sarral Population characterized by artisanal activity: alabaster industry and wines and champagnes. Emphasizes the building of the Agricultural Cooperative Sarral designed by the modernist architect Pere Domènech i Roure, which was built in 1914 and was later expanded and modernized. On the other hand, Sarral has the narrowest street in Spain. Continuing toward the C-SO 241d to go to the C-14, which leads to the left Montblanc. Montblanc Ducal town, seat of the Catalan Parliament. Artistic and Monumental was declared in 1947. Keep walled, with gates and towers. Most notable are the churches of Santa Maria, San Miguel, San Francisco and San Marçal, Hospital de Santa Magdalena and sanctuary in the Sierra. Other places of interest are the Royal Palaces, Castles and Alenyà of the manor of Josa and Desclergue, the Old Bridge and the street of the Jews. It celebrates the Medieval Week St. George in April. We recommend a stroll through the streets and squares of the town and visit the magnificent County Museum before resuming the journey. Take the N-240 to the O to the Espluga of Francolí. Espluga of Francolí It will be the point chosen for dinner and sleep, as it has enough tourist infrastructure. Featured urban complex. The old church of San Miguel, the transition from Romanesque to Gothic, built in s. XIII was declared historical monument in 1923. It is also interesting to visit the Cueva de la Fuente Mayor Museum and the Museum of Rural Life. We must also mention the cellar modernist work of Pere Domènech i Roure in 1913, called "Cathedral of Wine". Visiting one of these museums can be morning before going to Poblet. For the TV-7001, reached the monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet. Poblet At around 12 am, arrival at the monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet. Largest inhabited Cistercian monastery in Europe. It was built over the s. XII-XVI. Royal Highlights door, the cloister, the temple washing, the chapter house and the graves abbatial; the library, the parlor, wine cellar, bedroom, or the Royal Palace of King Martin, the Museum and the Palace Restoration Martin King, the church, the Renaissance altarpiece and the royal tombs. The surroundings are rich in vegetation. The forests belong to the Poblet PEIN the Prades Mountains. The time spent at the monastery will be 1 h 30 min / 2 h, whereas the tour lasts approximately one hour. Disposes the way to Montblanc and follow the N-240 now head to the S Valls. Valls In this population, there will be a stop for lunch. Valleys kept in the old, narrow streets and crooked medieval features. Archpriest of St. John Church is Gothic, begun in 1570, with a Renaissance façade and Gothic tower. We must also mention the shrine of the Virgin of Lledo and two sets of glazed tiles of the chapel of the Rosary, made the Century Century and dedicated to the Battle of Lepanto, one of the most important works of Catalan ceramics of the period. Continuing east along the C-51 to its 27 miles, when it falls to the left (N) TP-2002 to the monastery of Santes Creus. Santes Creus This Cistercian monastery was founded in s. XII. In 1174 work began on the church, chapter house, the temple and the bedroom, and was tracing the Cistercian cloister. The year 1225 remained unfinished and practically stopped the works until 1276, it resumed under the patronage of Peter the Great and II stands the Royal Palace. The work of the cloister, made between 1332 and 1336, introduced the English late Gothic. The abbot commissioned the altarpiece Gothic Gate, which finished Borrassà Louis in 1410. Around 1520, Abbot Tolrà abbatial chambers built in the royal palace since the Renaissance style. The construction of the tower of the Times pointed out the height of this style, which is not significantly altered medieval work. A new palace was built in 1640 the abbot of the old Hospital of the Poor. The altar of the church was replaced in 1646 by a bill of Baroque works of Joseph Tremulles. In 1733 the infirmary was built and expanded the refectory, which lost gothic features. In the second half-century XVIII, ended the development of places, construction of the portal of the Assumption and the transfer of the tomb of Montcada-Medinaceli inside the church. The monastery was finally abandoned in 1835. It was declared a National Monument in 1921 and began restoration of the whole. End of itinerary. Counties: Alt Camp | Conca de Barbera | Urgell Distance: 103.0 km Signage: Yes Duration: 48 hours Topics: Culture Types: Cultural Heritage     Criteria of usage of these routes   See restaurants here See hotels here Source: Government of Catalonia. Directorate General of Tourism / Data Update: 15/04/2010

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