Santes Creus: Monastery Heritage and Albereda
Accommodation in Santes Creus
Several distinct interests come together when staying in Santes Creus: the Reial Monestir with its Gothic cloister and royal tombs, other buildings with their own local history, and the Albereda de Santes Creus. La Ruta del Cister, GR175, is another point of interest for hikers and cyclists. If you are looking for a hotel in Santes Creus, these highlights can help you choose a destination that suits the interests behind your trip.
Reial Monestir: Foundation, Cloister and Tombs
The Reial Monestir de Santes Creus was founded in 1160 under the patronage of the Montcada and Cervelló lineages and Count Ramon Berenguer IV. Its cloister was the first built in the Gothic style in the Crown of Aragon. The church contains the royal tombs of Pere el Gran, Jaume II and Blanca d’Anjou, as well as the tomb of Admiral Roger de Llúria. Its foundation, architecture and the tombs identified by name each provide a distinct cultural and historical perspective.
Bridge and Further Building History
The approach to Santes Creus from the Tarragona–Pont d’Armentera road crosses a stone bridge over the Gaià River. Abbot Valls had the bridge built in 1549. Compared with the monastery, which dates back to 1160, it represents a later phase of the area’s building history.
Santa Llúcia is also connected with the monastery’s history, but through an earlier parish role: the church served as the parish church for residents of Aiguamúrcia and Les Pobles, who worked as day labourers on the monastery’s lands. The building is currently disused. Another architectural trace is the Celler cooperatiu in Santes Creus, designed by the Modernist architect Cèsar Martinell. Thus, alongside the monastery, both its former parish role and a Modernist design emerge as distinct topics.
The Albereda de Santes Creus
The Albereda de Santes Creus has been designated an Area of Natural Interest by the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is also the only forest in Catalonia described as a riparian or riverside forest of this kind. These details present the Albereda from two perspectives: its designation and the distinctive name given to its type of forest. It therefore offers a separate landscape highlight when planning a trip, alongside the area’s architectural and monastic history.
Hiking and Cycling on the GR175
The 6T card is the credential for the La Ruta del Cister hiking and cycling route, GR175. One of the route’s stamping points is in Santes Creus, on the façade of the former Pere el Gran hostel. Those who complete the route on foot or by mountain bike can apply for an electronic diploma confirming completion once they have finished, using their completed 6T card. The sequence is clear: first complete the route, then apply for the diploma with the completed card.
Getting Your Bearings
The “Oficina Comarcal de Turisme de Santes Creus” tourism office is located at the entrance to the Reial Monestir. It takes reservations and provides information about points of interest in the Alt Camp region and along the Ruta del CĂster. If you are looking for information about these regional destinations or the route, the office is a place to go for relevant information.
Discover more destinations: Les Pobles, El Pla De Manlleu.
Return to the broader travel overview: AiguamĂşrcia.
