Escaladei, Priorat

About the place:

Can you imagine how life must have been for a hermit, dedicated just to praying, reading, meditation and manual labor? You’ll get an idea at the Monastery of Escaladei. You will be amazed to discover that even the food is passed through a small gate constructed in such a way that it prevents the contact between the monks. If you think the monks must have felt very locked up, you are wrong. Each monk lived in the cell with garden, a porch and a workshop for crafts.

Although the seizure in 1835 meant the abandonment of the community and the beginning of the destruction of the monastery built between the thirteenth and eighteenth century, you can still imagine the magnitude of the monastery. Partly thanks to a very illustrative video and the reconstruction of one of the monks cells. Do not forget to visit the village of Escaladei where the monks formerly had their stores, warehouses and stables.

The legend says that the monks of the Carthusian Order chose the place to build the monastery following God’s sign. A pastor told them that he saw in a dream how the angels climbed to heaven by some stairs that were put against the stump of a pine at the place where he led his sheep to pasture. And it was at this place, at the foot of the Montsant, that the monks put the first stones of the monastery of Santa Maria d’Escaladei.

An interesting way to discover the life of monks.

Timetable:

Tuesday to Sunday, including holidays. From 1/10 to 31/05 from 10:00 to 13:30 and 15:00 to 17:30. 1/06 to 30/09 from 10:00 to 13:30 and 16:00 to 19:30. Closed Mondays except holidays, the 25-26/12 and 1 and 6/01.

Price:

children up to 6 years: for free; children between 7 and 12: 2€; from 13 years on: 3€; supplement of 2,10€ for the guided visit.

More info:

The ticket office and entrance closes 30 minutes before closing time.

It is interesting to watch the audiovisual before entering the monastery, since it helps to understand better the ruins.

Photo: © ExploraTgn.cat