THE BARBER BASIN

The Barber Basin is a region of Catalonia located in the north of the Tarragona province. Information has been found in the region, indicating the existence of villages dating from the Neolithic period, with caves on the northern side of the Prades Mountains, with primitive drawings and paintings. The region is a crossroads between Tarragona, Lleida and Barcelona. Four versions of the Catalan language are spoken in this region: north-western Catalan, central Catalan, the Catalan spoken in Tarragona and Xipella (very different to the other three).

THE MONASTERY OF POBLET

This monastery is situated in the Vimbod municipality, in the Barber Basin. It was built at the beginning of 1151 on land donated to the Cster Order by Ramn Beranguer IV. The Monastery of Poblet became the owner of a lot of land in the region, thanks to donations from kings, noblemen and lords. Some Catalan kings were buried in Poblet. In 1835 all the property owned by Poblet was passed to the State, so the fifty monks had to abandon the monastery. In 1940 monasterial life came back to Poblet, with monks from an Italian monastery. The Monastery was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991.

READING COMPREHENSION
*) Where is the monastery located? It is located in the Vombad municipality, in the Barber Basin. *) When was it included in the UNESCO World Heritage List? The monastery was included in the List in 1991. *) How far does the history of the monastery go back? It goes back to 1151. *) When where the monks expelled? They left in 1835. *) How many monks where there in 1835? There were fifty monks. *) When did the monks return to the monastery? They returned to the monastery in 1940.