Surroundings of Poblet

 This route visit a heritage, artistic and cultural leading, value-European architectural gems with an extreme beauty and abundant, although he decorated a captivating landscape. The beginning of the output can be made of Francolí Espluga at the foot of the N-240, which communicates with Montblanc (also reached via junction 9 of the AP-2). In Espluga has visited the old church, the old hospital, the Museum of Rural Life and, outside the Cave Museum Source Major and the Wine Museum in the modernist wine cellar. Then you can go to Vimbodí (the N-240 or heading towards Lleida), where the beautiful Gothic church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which include the sundial carved on the wall that dates from year 1591. On the other hand, the Glass Museum, the Museum District section, you can meet one of the most important activities were carried out in Vimbodí the first half of this century. Then continue east to the TV-7002, passed by the side of the church of Our Lady of Torrents and reached the monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet, one of the most emblematic monuments Catalans. Before you arrive, you can make a tour around the surrounding forest, belonging to the Prades Mountains, which today is a Natural National Interest. It covers 2100 hectares of land and contains over 50 sources, plus some beautiful green and pleasant places. The monastery of Poblet is a jewel of civil architecture, military and religious dating from the Catalan XII, who for many years was the pantheon of the Crown Royal Catalano. The monastery, surrounded by an outer wall about 2 km perimeter, consists of several buildings which belong to different periods, from Romanesque to baroque, all of them, but harmoniously conjugates. It enters a wooded avenue, crossing the Golden Gate century XV, flanked by the evocative chapel of St. George, the main square, the second wall through the Royal Gate, and reached inside the enclosure. The building, which is large, contains beautiful inside tombs. The mausoleum contains, among others, the graves of James I, Peter of Aragon, John I and Ferdinand. The facade is baroque. In the interior premises cenobial, we see the cloister, chapter house, library, parlor, wine cellar, the Palace of King Martí, the Royal Museum and the magnificent church of the monastery of Poblet. The monastery of Poblet is the convent of the Cistercian order more valuable in Europe. End of itinerary. Landmarks Royal Palace of the King Marti Royal Gate of the monastery of Poblet Golden Gate Monastery of Poblet Wine Museum Old hospital Winery of the Agricultural Cooperative Museum of Rural Life Old Church Cave Museum Font Major Counties: Conca de Barberá Distance: 15.0 miles Signage: Yes Duration: 24 hours Topics: Nature | Culture Types: Cultural Heritage     Criteria of usage of these routes   See restaurants here See hotels here Source: Government of Catalonia. Directorate General of Tourism / Data Update: 15/04/2010

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