São João de Tarouca Monastery, Portugal

Discover the remains of São João de Tarouca Monastery, the first Cistercian monastery in Portugal.

São João de Tarouca Monastery
© Monestirs.cat

The remains of the Mosteiro de São João de Tarouca (São João de Tarouca monastery) sit atop the lush valley of Barosa, just below Serra de Leomil, around 15 kilometers from the city of Lamego, north of Portugal.

This monastery was built in the year 1124, and currently, despite being half-ruined, shows a charming decay, with the spring crossing its walls only increasing it.

The monastery began deteriorating when the religious order who used to inhabit it was abolished in 1834.

Nowadays, the best preserved part is the church, reformed in the 17th century, and almost intact. Inside, it still preserves the gilded chairs, 18th-century tiles, and a lively São Pedro painted by Gaspar Vaz.

To get here, there are several daily buses (except on weekends) leaving from Lamego and reaching São João de Tarouca.

More information:

Location:

São João de Tarouca, Portugal.

Ticket price:

Free admission.

Opening hours:

Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 12:00 and from 14:00 to 17:30. May through September, opening hours are extended until 18:00.

Mapa Interactivo:

Lamego

What to see:

Other worth-visiting nearby towns and cities:

Why "Portugal Travel"?

Portugal Travel is an organization of Portuguese agencies whose objectives are:

✓ To make Portugal, its culture and its heritage known.
✓ To promote sustainable tourism.

In collaboration with:

Escola Superior de Hotelaria e Turismo do Estoril

Turismo de Portugal