Valbuena Abbey facts for kids
Valbuena Abbey (which in Spanish is called Monasterio de Santa María de Valbuena) is an old Cistercian monastery. It is located in a place called Valbuena de Duero in the Valladolid Province of Castile-Leon, Spain. The abbey stands on the right side of the Duero River. From there, you can even see the royal castle of Peñafiel.
History of Valbuena Abbey
The monastery was started in 1143 by a woman named Estefanía. She was the daughter of Count Ermengol V of Urgell. Monks from Berdoues Abbey in France came to live there. This abbey was part of a larger group connected to Morimond Abbey.
The first two leaders, called abbots, were Martin and Ebrardo. Soon after it was built, Valbuena Abbey received special permissions and grew very well. It became so successful that it started three new monasteries of its own:
- Rioseco Abbey, started in 1148.
- Bonaval Abbey, started in 1164.
- Palazuelos Abbey, started in 1169.
However, in the 1300s, the monastery started to become less important.
Valbuena Abbey remained connected to Berdoues Abbey until 1430. After that, a new group of Cistercian monasteries was formed in Castile. From then on, Valbuena was connected to Poblet Abbey.
In 1835, the government, led by Juan Álvarez Mendizábal, closed down many religious buildings, including Valbuena Abbey.
The church part of the abbey then became a local parish church for the community.
For a short time in 1939, the monastery buildings were used by the government for a special purpose.
Later, the monastery buildings were sold to private owners. A person named Baron Kessel bought them, and then sold them to Juan Pardo. Juan Pardo took care of the buildings until 1950. At that time, a government group called the Instituto Nacional de Colonización bought the site. In 1967, the Archdiocese of Valladolid took over the monastery buildings. Then, in 1990, they leased them to a foundation called Las Edades del Hombre. This foundation often uses the space for art exhibitions.
Buildings and Design
Most of the buildings you see today were finished by 1230. The complex includes the church, which began being built in 1149. It also has the main monastery buildings, a guest area, sleeping rooms for the monks, and an area for lay brothers.
The church has three main sections and four parts. Its ceiling is curved, like a barrel. The middle part of the church, called the transept, has a higher ceiling. This part was made taller during the Renaissance period and has a dome. The church mostly follows the usual design for Cistercian buildings. It has a very large rounded end, called an apse, with two smaller rounded chapels on each side. There is also a rectangular side-chapel that was built in 1165. The main part of the church is built in an early Gothic style. The front entrance has a pointed arch with several decorative layers. Above this, there is a large round window.
Inside the monastery, the chapter house (where monks met) and the day room also have curved ceilings. The dining hall, called the refectory, is on the south side. It has a pointed, barrel-shaped ceiling with four sections. The main courtyard, called the cloister, has two levels. The "St. Peter's Chapel" (Capilla San Pedro) has a special arched space for a tomb. It also has a painting of a king from around 1270. The area for the lay brothers was removed during the Renaissance to create a second courtyard. Near the river, you can still see the old walls of the abbot's house, which dates back to the 1500s.
In 1931, Valbuena Abbey was officially recognized as an important national monument.
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María de Valbuena para niños
