Mosteiro de Alcobaça
Large Cistercian monastery founded in 1153, the first fully Gothic work in Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The Mosteiro de Santa Maria de Alcobaça resulted from the donation made by D. Afonso Henriques to the Cistercian Order, with a charter of couto (privileged estate) dated 8 April 1153, following the conquest of Santarém. The couto lands granted to the White Monks served to populate and cultivate the territory won from the Muslims, and the abbey became the centre of this effort. Construction of the great church began in 1178 and followed the model of Clairvaux, linking Alcobaça to the French mother house of the order.
The church is considered the first fully Gothic work built on Portuguese territory, with a clear and austere architecture. In the nave and the transept are the tombs of D. Pedro I and D. Inês de Castro, remarkable examples of Gothic funerary sculpture. Of the medieval monastic buildings, the cloister and the lavabo, the sacristy, the chapter house, the parlour, the monks' room, the refectory and the dormitory survive, to which are added buildings from the 16th to 18th centuries, among them the famous monastic kitchen.
The monastery was one of the most powerful houses of the Cistercian Order in Portugal, with workshops, an apothecary and an ingenious hydraulic network in the former estate. The monks left it in 1834, with the extinction of the religious orders. It was classified as a National Monument in 1910, inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List in 1989 and chosen as one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal in 2007. It is today managed by Museus e Monumentos de Portugal.
Highlights
- Cistercian Gothic church, the first fully Gothic one in Portugal
- Tombs of D. Pedro I and D. Inês de Castro
- Medieval monastic buildings: cloister, chapter house, refectory and dormitory
- 18th-century monastic kitchen
- UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1989
- Operated by
- Museus e Monumentos de Portugal, E.P.E.
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €15 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €7.50People aged 65 or over, young people aged 13 to 24 and families with at least one adult and one minor (50% discount on the standard ticket). |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 12 · Free admission for children up to and including age 12. |
| Seniors | €7.5050% discount from age 65. |
| Visitors with disabilities | freecompanion free · Free admission for visitors with a disability and one companion. |
| Students & apprentices | –Young people aged 13 to 24 receive a 50% discount; teachers and students on a study visit requested in advance enter free of charge. |
| Families | –50% discount for families with at least one adult and one minor. |
Free admission: Residents of Portugal have 52 days of free admission per year to the museums and monuments of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal (“Acesso 52” ticket, with Cartão de Cidadão, at the physical ticket office).
General tariffs of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal; the monument publishes a standard ticket price of €15. Tickets sold on site and online.
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible: no information
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
Detailed accessibility information is not published on the pages consulted.
Kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 12 |
|---|
Free admission up to age 12 and a 50% discount for families; the shop includes publications for children.
Getting there & parking
The monastery is on Praça 25 de Abril, in the centre of Alcobaça.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Museum shop
Shop with items linked to the monument and the region, and publications on history and heritage.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
Rental of monument spaces, under the venue hire regulations of Museus e Monumentos de Portugal.
Plan your visit
| Guided tours | yes |
|---|---|
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | The educational service (se@mosteiroalcobaca.pt) handles bookings for guided visits. |
