Monasterio de Piedra

In one of the driest and harshest regions of Aragon, there is a real oasis of nature and history –Monasterio de Piedra. This unusual monastic and park complex has its beginnings in the year1194, when the kingAlfonso II the Shamefultogether with his wifeDoña Sanchathey donated the former Arab fortifications to the monks of Poblet Abbey, intended for the construction of a monastery and the consolidation of Christianity in the region.

For centuries, the monastery performed religious functions, until itsprivatization in the nineteenth century. W1840was purchased byPablo Muntadas Campena, who continued his agricultural and livestock activities within it. We owe the real transformation of the surrounding landscape into a delightful park to his son,Juan Federico Muntadas. It was he who created an extensive network of paths, alleys and cascades, planting lush vegetation, which to this day creates a unique microclimate of this place.

One of the breakthrough moments wasdiscovery of Iris Cave in 1860, which quickly became a tourist attraction. Just seven years later, in1867, created hereSpain's first fish farm, thanks to the successful acclimatization of brown trout and freshwater crayfish in the waters of the Piedra River. To this day, this center supports the restocking of the rivers of Aragon.

W 1940Monasterio de Piedra has been officially declared aA picturesque place of national importance. Today, it combines history, nature and tranquility to create one of the most beautiful places to visit in Spain – perfect for nature lovers and history lovers alike.