Cultural Activities

The wealth of history, art and monuments to be found in its incomparable destinations makes the Catalan Coast one of the most spectacular places in Catalonia.

CISTERCIAN ROUTE
The Cistercian Route attracts visitors from around the world interested in seeing the architectural gems and lifestyle of the monks in the three monasteries it includes. The fact that they are to be found in the beautiful county of Cuenca del Barberá is an additional bonus on this trip, which is a must for visitors to the Tarragona province.
The site is around 30 minutes' drive from Le Méridien Ra, and the monasteries are close enough to one another to enable all three to be visited in a single day.
1. El Poblet monastery. This is Spain's leading Cistercian monastery. The reasons for its importance are manifold. Firstly, it is Europe's largest inhabited Cistercian complex. It was founded by Ramón Berenguer IV in 1150, who gave the land to the French abbey of Fontfreda, where his brother was abbot. The fact that its founder chose it as the official burial place of the Crown of Aragon made it a centre of wealth in the area thanks to donations made by the kings, who wished to guarantee themselves eternal rest. In its church, dominated by a majestic altarpiece by Damian de Forment, visitors can still see the tombs of Peter IV the Ceremonious and his daughter Joan of Aragon. The monastery was abandoned for a century following the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal (1835), but its reestablishment in 1945 and the return of the monks five years later restored its former splendour. In 1991 it was declared a World Heritage Site, a title shared with the Royal Monastery of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, El Escorial and the San Millán Yuso and Suso Monasteries.
2. Vallbona de les Monges Monastery. This is the only women's monastery on the route. The buildings were founded by Alphonso II the Chaste, James I the Conqueror and Alphonso X the Wise, all of whom regularly stayed there. Following the Council of Trent in 1573, which prohibited the existence of women's communities in uninhabited areas, the nuns were obliged to give away some of their lands. Vallbona de les Monges was built in several distinct stages, and the different architectural ages are represented in it. Good examples of this are the mediaeval lantern-shaped dome with eight faces (and unbuttressed vaults) and the curiously shaped trapezoidal Romanesque cloister that combines sculptures and Romanesque arches with Gothic windows built later. The presbytery of the church, which has a typically Romanesque Latin-cross layout, houses the tomb of Queen Violant of Hungary (wife of James I), who arranged to be buried there beside her daughter and without ornament. The library and the scriptorium are worth a mention, since the nuns ensured the conservation of 14 unique codexes from the 13th century. Since it was built, the only time is was not inhabited was during the Spanish Civil War.
3. Santes Creus Monastery. This monastery is a perfect example of the Bernardine layout. It has a main centre with the church, cloister and chapter house, as well as a second phase with a refectory, parlour, scriptorium and dormitory. The Eastern red porphyry tomb, where Peter I the Great was buried in a sitting position, is of particular note. At his feet there are two lions, probably from Mesopotamia, and the tomb of his faithful servant Admiral Rogelio de Lauria, who asked to be buried beside him. On the opposite side lie James II and his wife Blanca de Anjou.

MONTBLANC
Founded by King Alphonso I, Montblanc is a walled mediaeval city that is currently the county town of Cuenca del Barberá. A walk through its street reveals a number of stately home, such as the Royal Palace (occasional residence of the Aragonese monarchs), the old Romanesque bridge and the stunning Church of Santa María. It was declared an historic-artistic complex in 1947.

TARRAGONA, ANCIENT CAPITAL OF ROMAN HISPANIA
Legend has it that Jupiter left his wife Tiria when she fell in love with the city of Tarragona. The Romans settled in 218 BC as it was a strategically important enclave, and over time it became the capital of Hispania Citerior.
Visitors to Tarragona should not miss the various archaeological attractions, as the stones can speak for themselves.
1. The wall: Dating from the late third century BC. It originally stretched for 4 kilometres. Now only 1100 metres are left. It is between 4 and 6 metres thick and about 12 metres tall. The wall is punctuated by the Archbishop, Cantor and Minerva towers.
2. Roman amphitheatre: built in the second century AD and oval shaped. It was used for gladiatorial contests. Over time, buildings were constructed on top of it, as can be seen from the remains of the layout of a Visigothic basilica (sixth century), right in the middle, and the remains of a 12th century Romano-Gothic church.
3. Roman circus: built in the first century AD. It was used for shows such as quadriga races.
4. Roman and paleochristian necropolis: this site was discovered in 1923. It was used by different cultures, and burials with pagan and Christian rites have been found. Most of these archaeological discoveries can be seen at the Tarragona Museum of Archaeology.
5. Aqueduct: this system was used by the Romans to carry water from the river to the city.

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