Monasterio de Piedra

A 12th-century Cistercian monastery surrounded by spectacular waterfalls and a natural park. The monks here were the first in Europe to make chocolate, following a recipe brought from the New World.

History

Founded in 1194 by thirteen Cistercian monks from Poblet, the monastery flourished for centuries before being confiscated during the Desamortización of 1835. Today the monastery buildings serve as a hotel, while the natural park with its stunning waterfalls draws thousands of visitors.

Highlights

• Spectacular natural park with waterfalls
• First place in Europe to make chocolate
• Cola de Caballo waterfall (50m)
• Cistercian cloisters converted to hotel

More Monasteries in Aragón

• Monasterio de San Juan de la Peña — Benedictine, Medieval. A monastery sheltered beneath a rock overhang in the Pyrenean foothills. A centre of religious and political power in the 11th and 12th centuries, it houses the royal pantheon of Ramiro I, Sancho Ramírez and Pedro I.
• Monasterio de Veruela — Cistercian, 12th Century. The first Cistercian monastery in Aragón, founded in 1146. Its massive fortified walls and the transition from Romanesque to Gothic make it an architectural treasure of the Moncayo region.
• Monasterio de Rueda — Cistercian, 12th Century. A Cistercian monastery on the banks of the Ebro River, named after the great noria (water wheel) that irrigated its lands. A superb example of Cistercian architecture with a magnificent Gothic cloister.
• Monasterio de Sigena — Hospitaller, 12th Century. A Royal Monastery of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, founded by Queen Sancha of Castile. Once home to extraordinary Romanesque paintings, some tragically destroyed in the Civil War.

Explore nearby: Aragón guide · Zaragoza province · Castles of Zaragoza