A Land of Monks and Dragons

After a short journey south out of Barcelona you will come to one of the best examples of Cistercian architecture in Catalonia. The Santes Creus Royal Monastery is the only monastery on the Cister Route, which is no longer inhabited by monks. After a short visit to this mysterious and wonderous place, full of stories and legends, you will commence our “walking itinerary”.

Your stroll takes you through rural countryside, a landscape dominated by vineyards, almond trees and cereal fields, discovering as you go the ‘barracas’. These structures, made only of stone and without any type of mortar, were constructed centuries ago by local Catalan pageses (country folk) and are some of most well preserved constructions in the country. They have managed to defy the passing of time and have been kept practically intact over the centuries.

On completion of your walk you will have lunch in Montblanc, an impressive medieval village, which not only maintains its original surrounding walls, but has also maintained it’s ethereal beautiful within. This is the perfect setting to enjoy the local cuisine and learn about the history, both truth and fantasy. Here you will hear about the most important legend in Catalonia’s history: the story of Saint Jordi!

You will finish your trip with a guided tour of Poblet Monastery, the biggest Cistercian brotherhood in Europe, and as such has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1991. Here you will also have the opportunity to buy wine directly from the monk’s cellars where they have been making it here for centuries.