Monastery of Santa María de Villanueva de Oscos facts for kids
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The Monastery of Santa María de Villanueva de Oscos is an old religious building in Asturias, Spain. It was first built in the 12th century. At that time, it was a home for Benedictine monks.
Contents
What is a Monastery?
A monastery is a special place where monks or nuns live and work. They dedicate their lives to religious study and prayer. Monasteries often have a church, living areas, and sometimes farms or libraries. The monks at Villanueva de Oscos followed the rules of Saint Benedict.
History of the Monastery
The monastery was founded a very long time ago, in the 1100s. For many centuries, it was an important center for the local community. Monks lived there, prayed, and often helped people nearby. They also copied books and kept records.
Why the Monastery Changed
In the 19th century, the monastery stopped being a home for monks. This happened because of new rules from the Spanish government. These rules meant that many church properties, including monasteries, were taken over by the state. So, the monks had to leave.
Even though the monks left, the church part of the monastery is still used today. It serves as a parish church for the local people. A parish church is a church that serves a specific local area or community.
Important Old Documents
The monastery has a very special collection of old papers called a cartulary. A cartulary is like a big book or collection of documents. It contains copies of important old papers, such as land deeds and agreements.
This cartulary from Villanueva de Oscos holds 616 old documents. These documents are written on parchment, which is a material made from animal skin, used for writing before paper was common. These papers tell us a lot about the Middle Ages in Spain.
- 32 documents are from the 12th century (the 1100s).
- 261 documents are from the 13th century (the 1200s).
- 224 documents are from the 14th century (the 1300s).
- 99 documents are from the 15th century (the 1400s).
These old documents help historians learn about how people lived, what laws they followed, and how land was owned hundreds of years ago.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María de Villanueva de Oscos para niños
