If you come from completing the first part of the Cistercian Route, congratulations, you have already passed the equator! If you decide to start here, the journey begins in Montbrió de la Marca.
The fourth stage, of 21 kilometers, crosses on old cobblestone roads to the monastery of Santes Creus. The church, with imposing architecture, houses the royal tombs of Kings Pere el Gran and Jaume II and his wife Blanca d'Anjou, and also the admiral Roger de Llúria. You can stroll around the monks' large bedroom and a Gothic cloister with a very elegant decoration.
"El Mundo del Cister" (The World of Cister) is a valuable scenographic and audiovisual assembly designed to know the Order and its legacy without leaving the monastery. The majesty of Santes Creus has allowed the elaboration of movies such as the blockbuster
“El monje” or the ad of the famous video game "Game of War".
The fifth day is the return to Montblanc on a 24 kilometers journey. You pass through El Pla de Santa Maria, Figuerola del Camp and Prenafeta. Look at the holly forest and if your feet are overheated, don´t worry, you are about to finish the whole lap!
By bicycle the landscapes pass faster, but the excursion is also extraordinary. In just over two days you will complete the entire route, which you can also customize according to your tastes and abilities.
If you are completing the Cistercian Route during the first days of November, you can give you a gift as a prize for completing it. In Montblanc the Feria de Sant Martí, is celebrated during two days, an event in which the gastronomy of the Costa Daurada, (Golden Coast), the wines and cavas of the Conca de Barberà Denomination of Origin and the artisan cheeses made in Catalonia are the protagonists.
It is impossible not to salivate with the live cooking exhibitions of the restaurants of the region and the pairing sessions. If you work feel comfortable among stoves, sign up for the popular kitchen contest. If you are one of those who don´t leave anything on the plate, go ahead, the tasting never ends!