Santes Creus: Monastic Culture and Holiday Apartments

Santes Creus takes you right into the history of the Reial Monestir de Santes Creus. The monastery was founded in 1160 under the patronage of the Montcada and Cervelló lineages and Count Ramon Berenguer IV. Culture, nature and activity provide three distinct focal points.

Culture

The cloister of Santes Creus is the first cloister built in the Gothic style by the Crown of Aragon. The church of the Reial Monestir de Santes Creus houses the royal tombs of Pere el Gran, Jaume II and Blanca d’Anjou, as well as the tomb of Admiral Roger de Llúria. Santa Llúcia was the parish church of the inhabitants of Aiguamúrcia and Les Pobles, who worked as day labourers on the monastery’s lands. Santes Creus is also home to the Celler cooperatiu, designed by the modernist architect Cèsar Martinell. The stone bridge over the Gaià River, which provides access to Santes Creus from the Tarragona–Pont d’Armentera road, was built in 1549 by Abbot Valls. When a family has different interests, these cultural attractions can be given individual weight and combined with nature or activity.

Nature

The Albereda de Santes Creus was designated an area of natural interest by the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is also the only forest of its kind in Catalonia described as an alluvial or riparian forest. Those who place landscape-related topics alongside the monastery’s history thereby have a distinct second focus for planning their trip.

Hiking and Cycling

The 6T card is the pass card for the La Ruta del Cister, GR175 hiking and cycling route. In Santes Creus, there is a stamping point on the façade of the former Pere-el-Gran hostel. After completing the route on foot or by mountain bike, the completed 6T card can be used to apply for an electronic diploma confirming that the route has been completed. Those comparing hiking and cycling can treat the means of transport as a separate planning factor alongside culture and nature.

Holiday Apartment and Trip Planning

If you are considering a holiday apartment in Santes Creus, travel dates, room category and cancellation policy provide three objective points of reference. The accommodation decision can be linked to the desired focus on culture, nature or the route without prescribing any particular type of trip. In Santes Creus, these topics can be considered separately: the monastery surroundings, the Albereda and the Ruta del Cister represent different thematic approaches. When choosing a holiday apartment, travel dates, room category and cancellation policy can therefore be considered in relation to the desired focus; a shared trip can combine culture, landscape and the route without one topic replacing the others.

Other Places

The same broader local area also includes El Pla De Manlleu.

Visitor Information

The Oficina Comarcal de Turisme de Santes Creus is located at the entrance to the Reial Monestir de Santes Creus. Reservations are made there, and information is provided about attractions in the Alt Camp region and along the Ruta del Císter.

For the broader travel overview: Aiguamúrcia.