Visit - Monastery of Escaladei

Following two recent visits to the Monsatery at Santes Creus, I decided to go back to the Carthusian site at Scala Dei - the "stairway to God" in the Montsant region. I was last there in 1982 when it had just been acquired as a restoration site however even now there is a massive amount to do. Like Santes Creus and other monasteries, it was closed in 1835 as a convenient way to sell off the land and the destruction of six centuries of peaceful settlement was completed in a few days. Since then the carved stones have been mined for use in farm buildings and walls but the shameful lazy pillagers did not remove the foundations so there is a lot to build on.

The Carthusians were a "silent" order, spending most of their time in individual cells in prayer and meditation. "Lay" workers assisted with the farming and maintenance of the buildings and land, and pilgrims and travellers were cared for in the Hospital and pharmacy.

The church building is the oldest part, dating from the early 13th century (1228) and was patronised by King Jaume I whose statue and name is prominent in Salou. The buildings were extended and refurbished constantly thoughout the 15th and particularly the wealthy farming periods of the 16th and 17th centuries when Catalunya flourished.

It is tragic, but perhaps typical of human history, that this effort should be destroyed by envy and greed then left to rot and ruin once the wealth had been taken by a few individuals.

How to get there: Take the T11 Bypass from Reus towards Falset, just beyond Reus take the right turn to Borges del Camp and continue to Alforja then Direction Cornella de Montsant. Before Cornella there's a junction to the left (good cafe at the junction) to Poboleda which you pass through before arriving at Escaladei. There is a small village first where you can enjoy a meal or a drink - the Monastery is 2 kilometers up a track beyond the village. Opening hours 10 - 1.30 closed Mondays. For variety, return via Gratallops where you can buy very fine Priorat wine and other products at the Agro-Coop, then pass through Falset before returning to Reus.