Yes, we have detoured to a small town on a big reservoir which has a monastery with a difference. It's Monastair de Piedro, a combination of nature park with waterfalls, a smart hotel and a part ruined monastery. The monastery was built with stones from a dismantled castle gifted to an abbot in 1200. It was built by volunteers from Valencia, Navarra and Catalonia in only 24 years.
We had lunch here with some nuns first and then walked the waterfall trail which was pretty exhausting in the 30+ temperatures. The waterfalls are really impressive but require a lot of climbing up and down to see them as they cascade over the sides of a shallow canyon. Yes I did take lots of photos.
After a cooling break and an ice cream we then looked round the monastery which is very old but was partly destroyed in 1800's and abandoned. It is now in private hands and part has been rebuilt and turned into a hotel.
One of its claims to fame is that it was the first place in Europe to make chocolate. Monks also made wine and there is a wine museum with a lot of really old wine making equipment.
We are staying overnight at a steeply terraced campsite with views over the reservoir. There are eagles circling overhead. It's very peaceful here but we are off tomorrow to the Rioja region to find some wine.
No comments :
Post a Comment