Charterhouse of Aula Dei facts for kids

The Charterhouse of Aula Dei (meaning "House of God" in Latin) is a historic monastery where Carthusian monks once lived. It is located about 10 kilometers north of the city of Zaragoza in Aragon, a region in north-eastern Spain. This important building was officially recognized as a national monument on February 16, 1983.

A Look Back: 16th to 20th Centuries

Founding and Early Years

The Charterhouse of Aula Dei was started in 1563. It was founded by Hernando de Aragón, who was the Archbishop of Zaragoza. He was also the grandson of the famous Catholic Monarchs of Spain.

The monastery was designed by Martín de Miteza. It was built to house a large community of thirty-six monks. This was three times more monks than most Carthusian monasteries usually had!

Changes Over Time

Like many monasteries in Spain, Aula Dei was closed in 1836. This was part of a process called "Desamortización," where the government took back church properties. The monks had to leave.

However, the Carthusian monks bought the monastery back in 1901. French Carthusian communities, who were in exile, moved into Aula Dei in 1902. They came from places like Valbonne and Vauclaire Charterhouses.

Amazing Art: The Goya Frescoes

Inside the church of the monastery, you can find incredible artworks. These are 11 large paintings called frescoes. A fresco is a painting done on wet plaster, so the colors become part of the wall.

These frescoes were painted between 1772 and 1774 by the famous Spanish artist Francisco Goya. They show scenes from the Life of the Virgin Mary. Today, only 7 of the original 11 frescoes still remain.

For a long time, it was very hard to see these paintings. Since the monastery was a closed community, visitors were only allowed in for a few hours each month. Because of this limited access, Goya's early and impressive work here has not been studied as much as his other art.

Today: A New Community and More Access

The Carthusian monks left the monastery in August 2012. They asked the Chemin Neuf Community to take over. This new community continues the mission of prayer and welcoming visitors.

The Chemin Neuf Community is not a cloistered (closed) group. This means they can offer more access to the monastery. Now, visitors can see Goya's frescoes weekly, instead of just once a month.

Images for kids

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  View of the Charterhouse.

See also

In Spanish: Cartuja de Aula Dei para niños