On the banks of the Gaià River, we find the monastery of Santes Creus, which was the center of one of the most extensive and influential monastic lordships in the Crown of Aragon. With solid, solemn, and austere architecture, the abbey reflects the canonical model of Cistercian monasteries. Visiting Santes Creus is like reliving a time when purity and withdrawal from the world were embodied in a place firmly rooted in the land.

Founded in 1160, the zenith of Santes Creus was during the 13th and 14th centuries, due to its close relationship with nobility and the royal lineage. Kings Peter III of Aragon and James II the Just, along with his wife Blanche of Anjou, were patrons of the monastery and chose to be buried here in two Gothic mausoleums next to the main altar. The study and restoration of the royal pantheons in 2010 revealed the remains of Peter III of Aragon and Blanche of Anjou, the only kings of the Crown of Aragon whose remains have remained intact.

The monastery’s layout organizes spaces according to the needs of the community. The church, open for worship in 1225, is an example of the transition from Romanesque to Gothic style. Although it offers a sense of lightness and grandeur, it is a solid and austere temple. It contrasts with the splendor of the cloister, from the 14th century, the first Gothic-style cloister in the Crown of Aragon.

Plaza Jaume el Just, s/n
43815 Santes Creus, Tarragona
Phone: +34 977 63 83 29
Email: santescreus.cultura@gencat.cat