Monestir de Poblet (Poblet Monastery)
Oblique view of fortified wall and two polygonal towers, marking the entrance to the Monestir de Poblet, 1151, Vimbodi, Catalonia, Spain, pictured on May 20, 2006, in the evening. These fortifications were built during the 14th century by the House of Aragon and are an impressive example of late gothic military architecture. They stand in contrast to the use of the Monastery as a place for prayer. The Monastery of Poblet belongs to the Cistercian Order and was founded by French monks. Originally, Cistercian architecture, like the rules of the order, was frugal. But continuous additions including late Gothic and Baroque, eventually made Poblet one of the largest monasteries in Spain which was later used as a fortress and royal palace. Poblet was closed in 1835 by the Spanish State but refounded in 1940 by Italian Cistercians. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Picture by Manuel Cohen
