Monastery of Fitero facts for kids
The Monastery of Fitero (also known as Monasterio de Santa María la Real) is an old Cistercian monastery. It is located in a town called Fitero in Navarre, Spain. You can find it right by the Alhama River.
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A New Start: Building the Monastery
On October 25, 1140, King Alfonso VII of León and Castile gave some land to build a monastery. This land was near the Santa Maria de Yerga Church. By 1141, a small monastery was ready. It was led by an Abbot named Raimundo de Fitero. This first monastery was built in a place called Niencebas.
In 1147, Abbot Raimundo officially joined the monastery with the Cistercian Order. This was a big step! Between 1147 and 1152, Abbot Raimundo moved the monastery to its final spot in Fitero.
Challenges and Growth
Things got tough in 1159. The bishop of Tarazona, Martin, attacked the monastery. He forced out or killed all the monks there. We don't know how long the monastery stayed empty. But a new Abbot, Guillermo, was chosen in 1161.
Abbot Guillermo helped the community around the monastery grow. He also made sure the monastery's property rights were safe. Between 1161 and 1191, the monastery became much bigger and more important. It was one of the most important monasteries in the area! Abbot Guillermo was replaced by Abbot Marino in 1182. Abbot Marino led until 1187.
Solving Problems and Building the Church
Between 1189 and 1210, the main council of the Cistercian Order found some problems. They made several accusations against the abbots. For example, in 1191, they said an abbot was working with a fortune-teller. They also said he was hiding debts.
In 1197, a plan was discovered to remove the Prior (a leader) of the monastery. The general council stepped in to fix things. It took some time to bring peace back. A new official abbot, Garcia, was finally appointed in 1211. The main church was built between the 12th and 13th centuries. It was officially opened in 1247.
Border Disputes and Changes
Since it was founded, the Fitero monastery was part of Castilla. But Fitero was right on the border with Navarra. This meant it was often caught in arguments over who owned the land. Kings from both Castilla and Navarra gave gifts to the monastery over time.
In 1335, a war was fought to decide which kingdom the monastery belonged to. The matter was not fully settled until 1373. It was finally decided that the Monastery of Fitero had always belonged to Navarra.
Because of the war and other issues, life at the monastery became less strict. This continued into the 16th century. Some people in the community said monks were breaking their rules. They were accused of taking bribes and going on hunting trips.
However, in the 17th century, things changed. The Cistercian Order made new rules. Two monks from each monastery had to go to university. This brought new energy to the monastery. Many writers came from the Monastery of Fitero during this time. The last abbot who stayed for life died in 1643. After that, abbots served for four-year terms until 1835.
In 1809, the monks had to leave the monastery because of a government rule. They came back in 1814 but were forced out again in 1821. Finally, in 1835, the monks were permanently removed from the monastery.
How the Monastery Was Built
We don't have any parts left of the very first monastery built in 1140 at Niencebas. We know it was mostly made of wood, with some rocks. Like other Cistercian monasteries, it had a church, a sleeping area (dormitory), a dining hall (refectory), and a guest house. The monastery's land, with its buildings and fields, was separated by a wooden fence.
When the monastery moved to Fitero, the new buildings and fields were also marked by a wooden fence. This fence also started to act as a defense. Soon after, the wooden fence was replaced by a wall made of brick, rock, and mortar. But this monastery was destroyed in 1159 when the bishop of Tarazona attacked it.
Only the chapter house (a meeting room) and most parts of the church are still standing from their original construction in the 12th and 13th centuries. Over time, parts were rebuilt or updated. For example, the entrance area (portico) of the cloister (an open courtyard) was rebuilt in the 15th century. In the early 16th century, this same portico was changed again to a plateresque style. This style used lots of detailed decorations, like silverwork.
Major updates happened again in the late 16th and early 18th centuries. A new cloister was built. New buildings were also added around it. The old buildings no longer met the monastery's needs. These new buildings changed how the monastery worked each day. Everything now centered around the new cloister.
The Abbey Church of Fitero
The church was the most important building at the monastery. It was where everyone worshipped. All other buildings, including the cloister, were built around it. The church was next to the northern side of the cloister.
The first part of the church was built between 1179 and 1195. This included the main altar area (sanctuary), the cross-shaped part (transept), and buildings on the eastern side of the cloister. The library, the sacristy (where sacred items are kept), and the chapter house were also built then. The church was finished between 1214 and 1247.
The church's main design was greatly influenced by gothic architecture. This style came from the Burgundy region of France. After the monks left in 1835, the church continued to be used for religious services. But it was then run by local priests.
The front of the church was built in a Romanesque style. This means it had round arches. The church's floor plan is similar to other monasteries. It has a Latin cross shape with three main sections (naves). It also has a walking area around the altar (ambulatory) with five small chapels on the sides.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María la Real (Fitero) para niños
