Monastery of Santa Maria de Santes Creus, (Catalan: Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Santes Creus) is a former Cistercian monastery. The abbey was erected in the 12th century, in the province of Tarragona (Catalonia). However, it was in the thirteenth century when Peter III of Aragon expressed his desire to be buried in the monastery and a royal crypt was built for himself and his son, King James II that many of the local nobility established the custom to choose this place for burial. This lead to the monastery to increase in splendor and greatness thanks to the numerous donations received.

The monastery's origins date to 1158, when the Lords of Montagut and Albà donated the village of Santes Creus to the monks of Valldaura. The papal decree that was required to establish a monastery was made by Pope Alexander II, and construction of the monastery began in 1174. The complex was completed in 1225.

The monastic complex continued to expand during the 17th and 18th century, until, following the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal in 1835, the Cistercians left and building activities ceased. The monastery was declared a national monument in 1921.

Date: July 2019
Photographer: Lluis Ramírez
Additional information: Wikipedia