Poblet Abbey
{{short description|Monastery in Catalonia, Spain}}
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{{Expand Spanish|Monasterio de Poblet|topic=geo|date=April 2011}}
{{Expand Catalan|Monestir de Poblet|topic=geo|date=June 2011}}
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{{Infobox religious building
| name = Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet
| native_name = Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet
| native_name_lang = ca
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| image = Monestir de Poblet.JPG
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| map_type = Spain Catalonia
| map_size = 250
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| location = Vimbodí i Poblet (Tarragona), Catalonia, Spain
| coordinates = {{coord|41.380833|1.0825|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| religious_affiliation = Catholic Church
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| leadership = Abott Octavi Vilà i Mayo
| website = {{URL|http://www.poblet.cat}}
| architecture = yes
| architect = {{ill|Arnau Bargués|ca||es}}
| architecture_type = Monastery
| architecture_style = Catalan Gothic
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{{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site
| child = yes
| ID = 518
| year = 1991
| criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(i), (iv)}}(i), (iv)
}}
{{Infobox designation list
| embed = yes
| designation1 = Spain
| designation1_type = Non-movable
| designation1_criteria = Monument
| designation1_date = 13 July 1921
| designation1_number = RI-51-0000197{{cite web|title= Monasterio de Poblet|url=http://www.mcu.es|work=Patrimonio Historico - Base de datos de bienes inmuebles|publisher=Ministerio de Cultura|access-date=9 January 2011|language=es}}
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Poblet Abbey, otherwise the Royal Abbey of Santa Maria de Poblet ({{langx|ca|Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Poblet}}), is a Cistercian monastery, founded in 1151, located at the foot of the Prades Mountains, in the comarca of Conca de Barberà, in Catalonia (Spain). It was founded by Cistercian monks from France. The main architect was {{ill|Arnau Bargués|ca||es}}.
This monastery was the first of three sister monasteries, known as the Cistercian triangle, that helped consolidate power in Catalonia in the 12th century. (The other two are Vallbona de les Monges and Santes Creus.)
Significance
Poblet was one of the two royal pantheons of the kings of the Crown of Aragon since James I of Aragon (along with Monastery of San Juan de la Peña). Some of the most important royal sepulchres have alabaster statues that lie over the tomb. The kings have lion sculptures at their feet, while the queens have dogs.[http://www.poblet.cat/index.php?Ng%3D%3D&LDIzLDI3LDI4 Tombes reials]
Peter IV of Aragon (1319 – 1387) made it a condition, under solemn oath at the moment of crowning, that all the Aragonese kings be buried there. Only Ferdinand II of Aragon broke the oath, after his kingdoms had been merged with the Crown of Castile, and was buried in Granada.Màrius Domingo & Antoni Borau, Muntanyes de Prades. Paisatge i fauna, Cossetania Editions, {{ISBN|84-89890-06-4}}
At the height of its splendor, the monastery was home to more than 300 monks and had numerous "Cistercian farms" run by lay brothers who exploited its agricultural land and forests.{{citation needed|date=September 2022}} The monastery buildings occupy about {{convert|12,000|m2|sigfig=3}}.
Burials
The following kings and queens of Aragon are buried at Poblet Monastery:[http://www.poblet.cat/index.php?Ng%3D%3D&LDIzLDI3LDI4 Tombes reials]
- Alfonso II (1196)
- James I (1276)
- Peter IV (1387), and his first three wives Maria of Navarre, Eleanor of Portugal, and Eleanor of Sicily
- John I (1396), and his wives, Martha of Armagnac and Violant of Bar
- Martin (1410), and his first wife, Maria de Luna
- Ferdinand I (1416), and his wife, Eleanor of Alburquerque
- Alfonso V (1458)
- John II (1479), and his second wife, Joana Enríquez
Additional notable figures interred here include the Hungarian queen Beatrice of Naples (1508),[http://www.poblet.cat/index.php?Ng%3D%3D&LDIzLDI3LDI4 Tombes reials] Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton (1731) and Archduke Karl Pius of Austria, Prince of Tuscany, Carlist-Carloctavismo pretender as "Carlos VIII" (1953).
The tombs of the royals were restored by the Catalan sculptor Frederic Marés in 1948.[http://www.poblet.cat/index.php?Ng%3D%3D&LDIzLDI3LDI4 Tombes reials]
Ruin and rebuilding
The monastery, which had already suffered damage during the First Carlist War, was closed down due to the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal in 1835 during Isabella II of Spain's rule. The Desamortización or secularization of the place brought monastic life to an end.
On 24 July of the same year the monastery was plundered by representatives of the Mendizábal's government and unruly mobs.Josep M. Sugranyes, De Reus a Prades i Poblet; A peu pels camins de la història, la llegenda i l’anècdota, Cossetania Editions, {{ISBN|84-89890-92-7}} During the events all valuable paintings and furniture were removed and dispersed. Also parts of the monastery were destroyed by fire.
File:Monestir de Poblet a vista de drone 2.7K 50fps.webm
In the years that followed, the Monastery fell into disrepair and ruin; some of the main roofs caved in. The tombs of the rulers of the Crown of Aragon were desecrated and the remains were transferred and kept for a while in the Cathedral of Tarragona, thanks to the intervention of Rev. Antoni Serret from the neighboring town of L'Espluga.Josep M. Sugranyes, De Reus a Prades i Poblet; A peu pels camins de la història, la llegenda i l’anècdota, Cossetania Editions, {{ISBN|84-89890-92-7}}
Finally the monastery was refounded in 1940 by Italian monks of the same order and repair and reconstruction began. Close to the entrance of the church one building has been kept in a ruined state as a reminder. Remains of the deceased of the ancient Royal House of Aragon were put back in sepulchres, but are now co-mingled.
Poblet belongs to the Cistercian Congregation of the Crown of Aragon, along with Santa Maria de Solius and convents such as Santa Maria de Vallbona and Santa Maria de Valldonzella. The Abbot of Poblet is the ex officio chairman of the Congregation. Today the monastic community of Poblet is composed of 29 professed monks, 1 regular oblate, 1 novice and 2 familiars.
Poblet Monastery has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991. The altar (1527) was sculpted by Damián Forment.
In 2010, Spanish architect Mariano Bayón designed the Poblet Monastery Guesthouse.{{cite web | title =Hospedería del Monasterio de Poblet by Bayón Arquitectos | publisher =The Architectural Review| date =2010 | url =http://www.architectural-review.com/today/hospedera-de-monastario-de-poblet-by-bayon-arquitects-catalonia-spain/8606121.fullarticle| access-date =November 15, 2016 }}
Abbots
The current abbot is the 105th abbot.
- 1954–1966: Edmon Maria Garreta i Olivella
- 1966–1970: Robert Saladrigues
- 1970–1998: Maurus Esteva Alsina
- 1998–2015: Josep Alegre i Vilas
- 2015–current: Octavi Vilà i Mayo
Gallery
Image:Plano Poblet224.jpg|Poblet ground plan
File:Spain PobletMonastry Entrance.jpg|Gate
File:Poblet-Reial Monestir de Poblet 15.JPG|Main belltower
File:Tombs of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Eleanor of Albuquerque - Monastery of Poblet - Catalonia 2014.JPG|Tomb of Ferdinand I of Aragon and Eleanor of Albuquerque of Aragon within the Reial Monestir de Poblet
File:Tomb of James I of Aragon - Monastery of Poblet - Catalonia 2014.jpg|Tomb of James I of Aragon
File:PobletPanteo.jpg|Part of the Royal Pantheon after restoration
File:Fuente de Poblet.jpg|Fountain for ablutions in one of the cloisters
File:Real Monasterio de Santa Maria de Poblet - Barandilla 3.jpg|Dragon handrail by Ramon Martí i Martí
File:MARIANO BAYÓN Nueva Hospedería del Monasterio de Poblet.JPG|Poblet Monastery Guesthouse in Tarragona. Architect Mariano Bayón. 2010
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Reial Monestir de Poblet}}
- [http://www.poblet.cat/index.php?OA%3D%3D&LDQ2 The "Montserrat Tarradellas i Macià" Archive] (in Catalan, Spanish and English)
- [http://www.poblet.cat Monestir de Poblet Official website] {{in lang|ca|es|en}}
- [https://www.topworldimages.com/Poblet_Abbey.htm Photos, Multimedia Resources of Abbey]
- [http://www.monestirs.cat/monst/conca/co22pobl.htm Monestirs de Catalunya. Poblet] (Catalan only)
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{{World Heritage Sites in Catalonia}}
{{World Heritage Sites in Spain}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Monasteries in Catalonia
Category:Cistercian monasteries in the Crown of Aragon
Category:Cistercian monasteries in Spain
Category:World Heritage Sites in Catalonia
Category:1151 establishments in Europe
Category:Basilica churches in Spain
Category:Romanesque architecture in Catalonia
Category:Christian monasteries established in the 1150s
Category:Bien de Interés Cultural landmarks in the Province of Tarragona
Category:Articles containing video clips
Category:Burial sites of the House of Barcelona
Category:Burial sites of Aragonese royal houses