Monastery of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas, Valladolid facts for kids
The Monastery of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas is a very old monastery for Cistercian nuns in Spain. It is located in the city of Valladolid, which is in the Duero region. The word Real means "Royal," showing it was founded by a royal family member. The name "Las Huelgas" means "of the Fallows" or "resting places."
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History of the Monastery
The early history of this monastery is not very clear. This is because a big fire in 1282 completely destroyed the building. It also burned all its old records.
A New Home from Queen María de Molina
After the fire, Queen María de Molina (who lived from 1265 to 1321) helped the nuns. She gave them a palace to use as their new home. This palace was a place where people used to rest, which is why it was called "of the Fallows." Today, only one gateway from this old palace remains. It is the only example of Mudéjar art in Valladolid. Mudéjar art is a special style that mixes Christian and Islamic designs.
Who Started the Monastery?
One historian later said that doña Sancha started the monastery. She was the sister of Alfonso VII, who was the Emperor of Spain from 1105 to 1157. This makes sense because King Alfonso was a very religious man. He was the one who first brought the Cistercians to Spain. He probably knew about this group because his father was from Burgundy. King Alfonso was also the nephew of Pope Callixtus II. He founded the Knights of Calatrava, a group of knights who were part of the Cistercian Order.
Challenges and Growth
This monastery was built in an area that was newly taken back from Muslim rule. King Alfonso was actively involved in the Reconquista, which was the effort to take back Christian Spain. The area was peaceful enough for him to trust his sister with the new monastery. However, in 1328, the monastery faced problems again. King Alfonso XI, also known as "The Avenger," attacked it. He was trying to capture his grandmother, Queen Maria, who had retired there.
After these difficult times, the region became more peaceful. The nuns settled into a normal life of prayer and work. Over time, they received many gifts of land and farms. This made them very important landowners in the area. They also gained special rights that came with owning so much land.
Changes and New Buildings
In 1482, under the leadership of Abbess Isabel de Herrera y de Guzmán, the nuns joined a reformed group. This group was called the Congregation of Castile. This change brought new energy and commitment to their religious rules. The monastery then grew and thrived until the mid-17th century.
Work on the monastery church began in 1579. This was when Abbess Ana Quijada y de Mendoza (1543-1590) was in charge. The church was finished in 1599. The cloister, which is an open area surrounded by covered walkways, was completely rebuilt in 1622. A count of the monastery in 1665 showed that there were 42 nuns living there. They also had 20 servants and two monks who served as their chaplains. These monks had a housekeeper and two servants.
Surviving Wars and Modern Times
The monastery faced difficulties again during the Spanish War of Independence in the 19th century. At that time, the government took away many of their lands. However, the monastery survived and recovered after this period. Because they lost their land and income, the nuns started a boarding school in 1895. They also managed to get through the Spanish Civil War about a century later. This was under the leadership of Abbess Purificación Martín, O.Cist., who was in charge from 1921 to 1947. After the war, the nuns built a new school building, which was finished in 1966.
The monastery was named a National Monument in 1931.
Today (as of 2011), there are 17 nuns living at the monastery. They are led by Abbess María del Mar Martínez Lopez, O.Cist., who was chosen on December 28, 2002. They have built a modern cloister, which opened on June 22, 2007. The regional government helped them with this project. The monastery also has a small "daughter house" called the Monastery of Alconada. It has 4 nuns and is in the Province of Palencia. The Monastery of Santa María la Real de las Huelgas is still part of the Congregation of St. Bernard of Castile. This group is part of the larger Cistercian Order around the world.
Important Burials
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de las Huelgas Reales (Valladolid) para niños
