Short Spanish trips, Sat, 15 Aug 2020 | written by Simon
Jemma and Simon at a Temple, UNESCO site in Europe, Spain

We started the trip quite late, following a Polish drinking party the previous night. Too much alcohol we brought from Poland, needed to go. So we only really left after noon. Luckily, the Poblet Monastery only opens at 3pm for a couple hours, so that was perfect.

We were wondering how come the Montserrat monastery is not on the UNESCO list, but this one is. We’re not entirely sure, but it’s certainly impressive and feels much more raw and honest than the massive destination that Montserrat has become. I mean, it’s hardly a monastery if you get millions of visitors all the time. Poblet is very different and we very much enjoyed its truly peaceful and remote feel.

It’s also in the rawness – this place is almost untouched by the extravagances of Baroque and the basic Cistercian design just seems so much more real and honest. The cloisters were particularly nice, with a lovely little pavilion with a fountain.

The most interesting thing about Poblet, and probably a big contributor to its UNESCO status, is the fact that a bunch of Aragon royalty are buried here. Their graves are really interesting, arranged at the crossing of the basilica, over two low arches, and sideways. A pretty unusual way, but it certainly does make an impression!

I am once again debating becoming a monk, but I am pretty certain now that I should instead start a new monastery. Best, a Monastery of Dionysus and Ishtar, ideally in some abandoned factory in central Berlin.