The refectory of the Alcobaça Monastery, Portugal in which the monks had their meals every day.


The refectory was the room in which the monks had their meals every day. While they ate, one of the monks read aloud passages of the Bible from a pulpit, which in Alcobaça is embedded on one of the walls. The access to the pulpit is done through an arched gallery with a by the first Portuguese king in 1153, the Cistercian Alcobaça Monastery was one of the richest monasteries in medieval Europe. Its church was the first building in Portugal to adopt the Gothic style and is the largest church in the country.


Size: 6000px × 4000px
Location: Portugal
Photo credit: © Mike Goldwater / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: alcobaç, arch, arches, architecture, building, christian, church, cistercian, columns, decoration, engaged, europe, gold, gothic, impressive, medieval, monastery, paint, painted, pillars, pulpit, refectory, religion, religious, ribbed, stone, structure, style, vault, vaults, white