Monastery of Iranzu facts for kids
The Royal Monastery of Saint Mary of Iranzu is an old and beautiful monastery in Spain. It's found in a place called Abárzuza, in the Navarre region. A monastery is a special place where monks live and pray. This one was started by a person named Pedro de Artajona in the late 1100s. He was even buried there when he died in 1193. A group of monks called the Cistercian Order helped a lot to build it during the 12th century.
History of the Iranzu Monastery
The monastery was one of many in Spain that faced big changes in the 1830s. At that time, the government decided to take over many church properties. This process was called "dissolving" the monasteries. It meant the monks had to leave, and the buildings became state property.
However, for a few years, the Iranzu Monastery was protected. A group called the Carlists helped keep it safe. But in 1839, after an agreement called the Convention of Vergara, the monastery was officially dissolved. The government took control of it.
After this, the monastery was left empty. It started to fall apart and became a ruin. Luckily, in 1942, the local government of Navarre decided to fix it up. One year later, a new group of priests, called the Theatine Fathers, moved in. They have been taking care of the monastery ever since.
Architecture and Building Styles
The church at the monastery was built in the 12th century. It shows the simple and strong style of Cistercian architecture. This style often uses clear lines and less decoration.
The cloister is a special open courtyard with covered walkways. Part of Iranzu's cloister is also from the 12th century and shows the Cistercian style. But another part was built later, between the 13th and 14th centuries. This section has the more detailed and pointed designs of Gothic architecture.
Later, in the 17th century, some smaller parts were added to the monastery. These additions show the Renaissance architecture style, which brought back ideas from ancient Roman and Greek buildings. So, the monastery is a mix of different historical building styles.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Iranzu para niños
