Monasterio de Piedra

Monasterio de Piedra · Zaragoza

Por Spain · 5 de febrero de 2025

The Monastery of Piedra is situated in one of the most arid areas of Aragon. Its origins date back to 1194, when Alfonso II, ‘the Chaste’, and his wife, Doña Sancha, donated an old Moorish castle to the monks of Poblet to build a monastery and strengthen the Christian faith in the area.

In 1840, Pablo Muntadas Campeny purchased the monastery, continuing the farming and livestock activities that had been taking place there. His son, Juan Federico Muntadas, shaped the park by carrying out improvements, opening up paths and walkways, and planting trees.

In 1860, following the discovery of the Iris Grotto, it was opened to the public. In 1867, Spain’s first fish-farming centre was established, introducing brown trout and Iberian crayfish into the waters of the River Piedra.

This centre continues to this day to supply the rivers of Aragon with species for restocking. The result of these activities is the garden we know today, which was declared a National Scenic Site in 1940.

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