Monastery of Piedra

Monasterio de Piedra is a 12th-century Cistercian monastery in Nuévalos, in the province of Zaragoza, set inside a nature park famous for its waterfalls, caves, and lakes along the Piedra River.

How did this place come to be?

The monastery was founded in 1194, when King Alfonso II of Aragon granted a castle and its surrounding land to thirteen Cistercian monks. The site had previously held a Muslim defensive stronghold dating back to the Caliphate of Córdoba (929–1031), used during the conflicts with the Christian kingdoms of northern Spain. Construction of the monastery itself, dedicated to St. Mary, began in the late 12th century, and the building was consecrated in 1218. Its architecture traces the shift from Romanesque forms to Cistercian Gothic.

Everything changed in 1835, when the Spanish confiscation of church property forced the monks to leave. The monastery sat abandoned for five years until Pablo Muntadas Campeny purchased it in 1840, keeping the agricultural and livestock operations already running on the land. It was his son, Juan Federico Muntadas, who transformed the surrounding grounds into a park — laying out paths and tracks and planting trees — creating the foundations of the attraction visitors see today.

What will you see on site?

A visit here really covers two different worlds. Inside the monastery walls, the old abbey survives with its monastic cells, chapter house, and church, carrying eight centuries of history. Just outside, the Monasterio de Piedra Nature Park unfolds along a valley where the Piedra River tumbles through a series of waterfalls, carving out caves and small lakes amid lush greenery — a striking contrast to the dry, rocky landscape of Aragón that surrounds it. That contrast, a green oasis hidden in an arid region, is the main reason the site draws thousands of visitors every year.

There's also a well-known local legend worth knowing before you go: the monks here are said to have prepared Europe's first cup of hot chocolate, made with cacao brought back from the New World.

How do you get there?

Nuévalos sits in the province of Zaragoza, in the Aragón region, in an area that's fairly sparsely populated and off the main tourist routes — which only adds to the place's appeal, since visitors arrive here on purpose rather than by chance. The most practical way to reach it is by car; the nearest major city is Zaragoza, from where a road leads into the Piedra River valley.

When should you visit?

The park is open for most of the year, but the season changes its character noticeably. In spring and summer the waterfalls and vegetation are at their fullest, and the cool, shaded grottos offer welcome relief from the surrounding heat. In autumn, the changing leaf colors add extra charm to the valley, while in winter, when parts of the cascades partially freeze, the site takes on a quieter, starker beauty.

Frequently asked questions

Is the monastery still an active religious site? No — since the 19th-century confiscation, the building has no longer functioned as an active abbey; today it serves a historical and tourist role within the park complex.

What's the main draw besides the monastery itself? The nature park, with its numerous waterfalls along the Piedra River, caves, and walking paths that wind through the valley.

Is this a good full-day trip? Yes — combining a visit to the historic monastery interiors with a walk through the nature park typically takes several hours, making it a natural day-trip destination from Zaragoza.

Where does the chocolate connection come from? According to local tradition, the monks of this monastery were the first in Europe to prepare a drink from cacao imported from the Americas, a story that's now part of the site's guided tours.