World Heritage Identification Number: 505
World Heritage since: 1989
Category: Cultural Heritage
WHE Type: Religious Sites & Sacred Architecture
Transboundary Heritage: No
Endangered Heritage: No
Country: 🇵🇹 Portugal
Continent: Europe
UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America
Map
The Monastery of Alcobaça: A Masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic Art
The Monastery of Alcobaça, officially known as the Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaça, is a remarkable example of Cistercian Gothic architecture that stands proudly in the heart of Portugal. This historic monument, located approximately 120 kilometers north of Lisbon and 110 kilometers south of Coimbra, was founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I, making it one of the most significant historical sites in the country.
More to come…UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site
The Monastery of Santa Maria d'Alcobaça, north of Lisbon, was founded in the 12th century by King Alfonso I. Its size, the purity of its architectural style, the beauty of the materials and the care with which it was built make this a masterpiece of Cistercian Gothic art.
UNESCO Justification of the World Heritage Site
Criterion (i): By virtue of its magnificent dimensions, the clarity of the architectural style, the beauty of the material used and the care with which it was built, the Monastery of Alcobaça is a masterpiece of Gothic Cistercian art. It bears witness to the spreading of an aesthetic style that developed in Burgundy at the time of St Bernard, and to the survival of the ascetic ideal which characterised the order's early establishments like Fontenay. The tombs of Dom Pedro and Dona Inês de Castro are beautiful examples of Gothic funerary sculptures.
Criterion (iv): The Monastery of Alcobaça is an example of a great Cistercian establishment with a unique infrastructure of hydraulic systems and functional buildings. Deservedly renowned, the 18th-century kitchen adds to the interest of the group of monastic buildings from the medieval period (cloister and lavabo, chapter house, parlor, dormitory, the monks' room and the refectory).
Encyclopedia Record: Alcobaça Monastery
The Alcobaça Monastery or Alcobasa Monastery is a Catholic monastic complex located in the town of Alcobaça, in central Portugal, 120 km (75 mi) north of Lisbon and 110 km (68 mi) south of Coimbra.Additional Site Details
Area: Not available
Number of Components: 1
(iv) — Outstanding example of a type of building or landscape
Coordinates: 39.55 , -8.97667
Image
© Alvesgaspar, CC BY-SA 4.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)
