One of the first Cistercian monastic foundations in Portugal, the Monastery of Alcobaça, became the main House of this religious order, thanks to a continuous royal protection policy that began with King Afonso Henriques, Portugal’s first King. Its extant medieval structures are unique in the world, and so are its later additions from the 16th through to the 18th centuries, as they bear testimony to the evolution of Portuguese architecture.
The Monastery is inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Monastery of Alcobaça
Registration Date
1989
Criteria
C i: Represent a masterpiece of human creative genius.
C iv: Be an outstanding example of a type of building or architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history.
Justification
Report of the 13th Session of the Committee
