Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses facts for kids
The Monastery of Sant Joan de les Abadesses is an old monastery located in Ripollès, Catalonia, in northern Spain. For many years, until 945, it was the only monastery in this area specifically for women.
Contents
A Look Back: The Monastery's Story
The monastery was started in 885 by a count named Wilfred the Hairy. He built it for his daughter, Emma, so she could get an education there. Emma later became the very first leader, or abbess, of the monastery. Wilfred had also built another monastery, Santa Maria de Ripoll, for his son Radulf.
The church building was officially opened on June 24, 887, by the bishop of Vic. In 1017, a special order from the Pope, called a papal bull, closed the nunnery. This happened because Bernard I of Besalú asked for it. Bernard then took over the monastery and brought in a group of monks.
From 1083 to 1114, the monastery was managed by the Monastery of St. Victor from Marseille. They sent a group of nuns from Greece to live there. But in 1114, the Pope stepped in again. He allowed a group of Augustinian canons (a type of monk) to take permanent control of the monastery.
Local abbots led the monastery until 1484. Later, it was managed by other types of abbots. In 1592, the monastery stopped being a religious community and became a simple church group. It was finally closed down in 1856. In 1931, it was officially named a Historical Monument, meaning it's an important old building to protect.
Exploring the Architecture
The church building you see today was mostly built in the 12th century. In 1428, a big earthquake hit. It destroyed the dome and the bell tower, and also damaged the church. After the earthquake, the church was largely repaired and rebuilt.
Church Design and Features
The church has one main hall, called a nave. This nave connects to a wide transept, which is the part of the church that crosses the main hall, making a T-shape. The transept has five rounded sections called apses.
Inside the church, you can find the altarpiece of the White Virgin. This beautiful artwork was made in 1343 by artists from Florence. There's also a chapel called the Chapel of the Pains, built in the Baroque style. It holds a famous sculpture called a "Pietà" by Josep Viladomat. Because of where the transept was originally located in the middle of the monastery, it used to provide access to both the women's and men's parts of the abbey.
Famous Sculptures
One of the most important sculptures in Catalonia is found here. It's called the "Descension" and was created around 1250. This artwork is considered an amazing example of Romanesque sculpture.
Other Monastery Buildings
The monastery also has a small cloister from the 15th century. A cloister is a covered walkway, usually with an open courtyard in the middle. This one is built in the Gothic style and has two floors. There is also an Abbot palace, which is a building where the abbot (the head of the monastery) would have lived. It also dates back to the 15th century.
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