CISTERIAN WATER SYSTEMS AND THEIR SIGNIFICANCE FOR SHAPING LANDSCAPE

Abstract

Locating monasteries in river valleys with a considerable tributary system is regarded to be one of the rules for establishing Cistercian foundations: Bernardus valles, colles Benedictus amabat, Franciscus vicos, magnas Dominicus urbes. A river valley provided opportunity for spatial development and land cultivation on fertile ground, something that Cistercian monks specialized in. In their efforts to raise effectiveness of their production, they did not underestimate the importance of water, not only by developing their fishing ponds, but also making water the main driving force for water mills and fulling mills, thereby promoting modern rural ‘food’ industry such as distilleries, breweries and open-pan salt production. In today’s post-cistercian landscape, in spite of many centuries of economic landscape exploitation, we can still discover properly functioning natural systems and traces of comprehensively developed water systems. Using the solutions utilized in monasteries all around Europe, the Order managed to enrich and shape landscape in a very considerable and unique way, not only on economic and social, but ecological level, too.