The Foundation of the Monastery of Alcobaça …

Years: 1178 - 1178

The Foundation of the Monastery of Alcobaça (1178)

In 1178, construction began on the Monastery of Alcobaça, a monumental Cistercian abbey that would become one of the most important monastic complexes in Portugal. Built in the Portuguese Gothic style, its architectural plan closely followed that of Clairvaux Abbey in France, featuring a spacious ambulatory and radial chapels—hallmarks of Cistercian design.

The monastery was a direct result of the strong ties between Portugal and the Cistercian Order, which played a crucial role in the spiritual, agricultural, and educational development of the kingdom. Over the following decades, Alcobaça would grow into a center of learning, monastic discipline, and artistic expression, cementing its place as one of Portugal’s most revered medieval institutions.

 

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