Vallbona de les Monges

Vallbona de les Monges is located at the southern end of the Urgell region.

The municipality also includes the villages of Rocallaura and Montblanquet, in the Maldanell Valley. Its main occupation is agriculture, especially vineyards, olive groves, almond orchards, and cereal crops. The first two activities have their own Protected Designation of Origin: "Costers del Segre" for wine and "Les Garrigues" for olive oil. However, the service sector is gaining increasing strength, with the tourist development of the Cistercian Monastery of Santa María de Vallbona, located on the Cistercian Route.

Origins and historical evolution

The population of Vallbona de les Monges grew around the monastery, and the first record of it dates from 1153. However, Vallbona de les Monges cannot be understood without Montesquiu, the now abandoned village.

In 1573, Abbess Estefanía de Piquer summoned the inhabitants of Montesquiu to settle near the monastery, with the aim of protecting the convent following the decrees of the Council of Trent, which prohibited isolated female monasteries. This story can be learned about at Espai Montesquiu.

Monumental and religious heritage

Since the Middle Ages, this monastic center has been very important, both for its properties and the monasteries that depended on it, but above all for the constant influx of nuns since its founding. Currently, the nuns who live there follow the rules and disciplines of the Order of Saint Benedict. Within the monastery, we find the church, notable for its two domes, the 12th-century cloister that blends Romanesque and Gothic styles, the chapter house, and two chapels: the Chapel of Saint Christopher and the Chapel of Our Lady of the Cloister.

Besides visiting the monastery, we can also see the churches located in the town center. In Vallbona, we find the 18th-century Parish Church of Santa Maria; in Montblanquet, the Parish Church of Sant Andreu, with its Cistercian and Romanesque influences; in Rocallaura, the Parish Church of San Lorenzo; and, at the top of the Serra del Tallat mountain range, we can visit the Sanctuary of Tallat, of which only the restored Church of Santa Maria and the ruins remain. However, the views from this vantage point are magnificent, as the Serra del Tallat is the highest mountain range in the Urgell region and offers fantastic vistas of the Conca de Barberà, the Prades Mountains, and the Poblet Forest. A true feast for the eyes.

Historical memory and ethnological heritage

In each of the villages there are also the old municipal washhouses, all of them restored and, in particular, one of the two in Vallbona, where the Interpretation Center of Route L2 is located, the republican defense line that passes through the municipality and of which there are trenches, bunkers, observation posts and other constructions that can be explored on foot, by mountain bike or in an off-road vehicle.

Nature, landscape and dry stone

In fact, the municipality has a wide range of paths, roads and trails that cross hills, overlook plains or border fields of cereals or olive trees arranged in perfect terraces and dry stone margins, with harmonious finishes that almost approach perfection.

Dry stone is therefore also a characteristic element in this enclave of the ancient Segarra, where there are many constructions with this art: shelters, cisterns, vaulted cabins, etc.

To better understand this art, Espai Maldanell explores this construction technique, the vestiges and legacy left by ancestors in these places, along with the biodiversity and nature projects underway in the municipality, such as the " yellows" project, which has redefined the traditional meaning of scarecrows. All of this is showcased in the village's old cooperative building, Molí de Baix, which features a recreation of the machinery and the workings of the equipment used to produce olive oil, the staple food for this arid region.

Culture and museum spaces

You cannot leave the town without visiting the first space dedicated to the seventh art in the lands of Lleida, the Museum Space of Cinema, formed by part of the collection of pieces of the Vallbona native Josep Maria Queraltó, who has gathered all kinds of unpublished machinery related to cinema: cameras, toys, projectors.

Places of interest

Monastery of Santa María de Vallbona

This Cistercian monastery, founded in the 12th century, is the only female monastery on the Cistercian Route that still maintains a community. It is notable for its Romanesque-Gothic cloister, two domes, and chapter house. It is the town's most important historical and spiritual landmark.

Parish Church of Santa Maria

An 18th-century church located in the heart of Vallbona. It forms part of the heritage linked to the religious life of the town. Its architecture reflects the Monastery of Santa María de Vallbona, extending beyond the monastery itself.

Church of Saint Andrew of Montblanquet

A church of Cistercian and Romanesque style located in the small village of Montblanquet. It is a testament to the area's medieval past. Its rural setting enhances its charm and authenticity.

Church of San Lorenzo de Rocallaura

The parish church in the village of Rocallaura is deeply connected to the history of this small hamlet. It forms part of the religious heritage that shapes the region and is a key element for understanding traditional local life.

Sanctuary of Tallat

Located in the Serra del Tallat mountain range, it preserves the restored church of Santa Maria and remains of the original settlement. It offers spectacular views over the Conca de Barberà region and the Prades Mountains. It's an ideal spot to combine heritage and scenery.

Montesquiu Space

An interpretive center dedicated to the history of the abandoned village of Montesquiu. It allows visitors to learn about the evolution of the territory and the events linked to the population relocation in the 16th century. It is a key resource for understanding the origins of Vallbona.

Interpretation Centre of Route L2

This area is dedicated to the Republican defense line that runs through the municipality. Here, the historical context of the trenches, bunkers, and observation posts that can still be visited is explained. This initiative combines historical memory with hiking.

Maldanell Space

Located in the old Molí de Baix mill, it interprets the natural and ethnological heritage of the area. It explains the dry stone walling technique, biodiversity, and projects such as the " amapárajaros " (bird-shaped shelters). It also includes a recreation of the old oil mill machinery.

Museum Space of Cinema

The first space dedicated to film in the Lleida region. It displays part of Josep Maria Queraltó's collection, including cameras, projectors, and historical artifacts. A unique and surprising cultural facility.

Municipal washhouses

Old community spaces, restored and renovated, are located throughout the municipality. They bear witness to the daily life of bygone eras. Some of them form part of the village's interpretive trail.