Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna facts for kids
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 Location in Spain
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| Monastery information | |
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| Full name | Monastery of Santa María de la Valldigna |
| Order | Cistercian |
| Established | 1297 |
| Disestablished | 1835 |
| Diocese | Valencia |
| People | |
| Founder(s) | James II |
| Site | |
| Location | Simat de la Valldigna, (Valencian Community) |
| Coordinates | 39°02′00″N 0°19′00″W / 39.03333°N 0.31667°W |
| Visible remains | Restored |
| Public access | Yes |
The Monastery of Santa Maria de Valldigna is a very old and important building. It is located in Simat de la Valldigna, a town in Valencia, Spain. This monastery was once home to a group of monks called the Cistercians.
History of the Monastery
The monastery was started in 1297 by James II of Aragon, who was a king. From the very beginning, it was one of the most important monasteries for the Cistercian order. Monks from another monastery called Santes Creus helped to found it. The king even gave the monks the entire Valldigna valley to live and work in.
Abandonment and Ruin
Monks lived in the monastery until 1835. At that time, there was a big change in Spain. The government decided to take control of many church properties. This event is known as the Ecclesiastical Confiscations of Mendizábal. After this, the monks had to leave the monastery. Many of its valuable items, like art and goods, were sold, stolen, or destroyed.
For many years, this old Cistercian monastery was left empty and fell into ruins.
Restoration and Importance
Luckily, the Generalitat Valenciana, which is the local government of the Valencian Community, started to restore the monastery. They began to fix it up and bring it back to life.
Today, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Valldigna is seen as a very special place. It is called "the spiritual, historical and cultural temple" of the old Kingdom of Valencia. It is also a symbol of the greatness of the Valencian people. The Valencian government is working to restore and protect the monastery. They want it to be a place where all Valencians can meet and where people can study the history of the Valencian Community.
See also
