Restoration of the dome of the abbey of Santa María del Poblet

Poblet, Tarragona, Cataluña.

Dating of the building: 12th - 16th century.

Applicant: Abbey of Santa María de Poblet (Cistercian community).

Reason for the award :

For the restoration of the dome, consisting of the recovery of the Gothic tracery from the 14th century.

Although the restoration work in the monastery has been carried out over more than a century, the Europa Nostra award was granted for the restoration of the dome of the abbey.

The Poblet monastery was founded by Ramón Berenguer IV, Count of Barcelona, ​​in the mid-12th century. It is one of the most impressive monastic complexes in Spain but above all, one of the best examples of Cistercian architecture in our country. The monastery has three walled enclosures with monumental doors, a church, chapels, crypts, towers, cloisters, chapter houses, and palaces, which make it a small medieval town. The different extensions give rise to a compendium of styles ranging from Cistercian to Baroque through Gothic and Plateresque.

The complex was threatened with destruction as a result of the first significant confiscation of the 19th century and the consequent expulsion of the Cistercian monks. The initial recovery work began in 1850. With the return of the Cistercian community in 1940, these works were maintained until the complete restoration of the monastic complex, highlighting the restoration of the mutilated tombs of the kings of Aragon by Frederic Marés. The recognition of Europa Nostra, however, was due to the completion and restoration works of the Gothic dome of the main church, whose windows had been blinded replacing the tracery of the 14th century.

Others awards in Cataluña: