Back عمارة سيسترسية Arabic Arte cisterciense AST Art cistercenc Catalan Zisterzienserarchitektur German Arte cisterciense Spanish Art cistercien French Architettura cistercense Italian Arte cisterciense Portuguese
Cistercian architecture is a style of architecture associated with the churches, monasteries and abbeys of the Roman Catholic Cistercian Order. It was heavily influenced by Bernard of Clairvaux (d. 1153), who believed that churches should avoid superfluous ornamentation so as not to distract from prayer. Although a few images of religious subjects were allowed, such as the crucifix, elaborate figures common in medieval churches were prohibited. Later abbeys were constructed in Renaissance and Baroque styles, which were more ornate by nature.
Most of the famous Cistercian abbeys were begun in the 12th and 13th centuries and were located in remote valleys.