sábado, 16 de abril de 2016

BARCELONA: PEDRALBES MONASTERY

One sunny sunday afternoon (free admission from 3pm) of this early spring we decided to visit again the Monestir de Pedralbes. The environment of this monastery, located in a well-off area of Barcelona, is really peaceful. This gothic monastery, one of the finest examples of Catalan Gothic architecture, is well preserved and its cloister is really large and beautiful.

The monastery of Pedralbes was originally surrounded by a wall. However only two towers and two gates that gave access to the monastery are preserved.




Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
On the left the apse of the church of Pedralbes Monastery and its bell tower appear and, on the right, a building belonging to the Conventet 


Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
This street, called Baixada del Monestir, belonged to Pedralbes Monastery, so this door was its former entrance


Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery
The bell tower of the Pedralbes Monastery from its main entrance


Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery
A closer view of the Monastery of Pedralbes from one of its former gates


Baixada del Monestir street in Barcelona
Baixada del Monestir street in Barcelona


Church of Pedralbes Monastery
Gothic window, buttress and the top of the bell tower of the church of the Pedralbes Monastery



Pedralbes Monastery Church



Bell Tower of the Pedralbes Monastery gothic churchBell Tower of the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery from Plaça del Monestir (Monestir Square)



Bell tower and doorway of the church of the Monastery of Pedralbes
Bell tower and doorway of the church of the Monastery of Pedralbes




Gothic archivolts of Pedralbes monastery
Main entrance to the church of Pedralbes Monastery, where you can see the gothic archivolts



Gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
Inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery


Gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
Stained glass window inside the gothic church of Pedralbes Monastery





Pedralbes Monastery Cloister



Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery

This cloister of Pedralbes Monastery has three floors. I haven't ever seen this kind of cloister with so many floors





Inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
 Inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona


 Gothic cloister and bell tower of Pedralbes Monastery
 Gothic cloister and bell tower of Pedralbes Monastery


Orange trees inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery
  Orange trees inside the cloister of Pedralbes Monastery


Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in Barcelona
A closer picture of the gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery with its gothic archs in the foreground



Gothic cloister of Pedralbes Monastery in BarcelonaThis cloister of Pedralbes Monastery surprises me because of its hugeness. It's bigger than the other cloisters I had visited before



In Baixada del Monestir Street there are the buildings that belonged to the walled monastery, like the Conventet. 



Monastery of Pedralbes and Conventet
Baixada del Monestir Street in Barcelona. The Monastery of Pedralbes is on the left and the Conventet on the right



Conventet de Pedralbes



In the corner of Baixada del Monestir Street and the Monastery square is the building known as the Conventet, which currently remains outside the monastery.


Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona
Romanesque door to the garden of willows in Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona


It was built in 1329 to accommodate the community of friars who took care of the spiritual care of the nuns of the monastery. It is a simple building with a small cloister, which is the only original element preserved.



Conventet of Pedralbes in Barcelona
The Romanesque elements of El Conventet (windows, doors and the upper gallery) come from the collegiate of Sta. Maria de Besalú in Girona



It was reformed in 1919 by the architect Enric Sagnier incorporating elements from the former Romanesque church of Santa Maria de Besalú. Nowadays the Conventet is a private property, belonging to Gòdia family.



Conventet
In the Conventet in Pedralbes, the architect Enric Sagnier adapted some old constructions next to the Pedralbes monastery


Conventet de Pedralbes
Besides Saugnier enhanced the modest facade with items brought from a great Romanesque building, the collegiate church of Santa Maria in Besalú (Girona)


Conventet de Pedralbes
Another view of the romanesque elements (upper gallery, windows and doorway) of The Conventet of Pedralbes




Conventet of Pedralbes in Baixada del Monestir
Conventet of Pedralbes in Baixada del Monestir Street



Houses beside Pedralbes Monastery
Some of the houses downhill from the monastery, facing the Conventet between the entrance and the lower gate of the wall, were a bakery or a butcher



Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes



Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes
Courtyard of a house next to Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes


Plaça del Monestir de Pedralbes
Nice corner beside Plaça del Monestir in Pedralbes





Montserrat Abbey is another interesting visit to do near Barcelona (it's located 60 km away from Barcelona), especially if you like religious buildings. I also recommend visiting other beautiful monasteries in Catalunya, like:





Besides if you like gothic architecture, you would be interested in visiting the following religious buildings in Barcelona:




- Useful information:
  • Address: Baixada del Monestir, 9 (08034 Barcelona)
  • How to get there: Metro L6 - Reina Elisenda Stop. Bus 22, 63, 64, 75 and 78 and Barcelona Bus Turístic, Blue Route, stop Monestir de Pedralbes.
  • Web sitehttp://monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat/

- Opening time:
  • From 1st October to 31th March: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 2pm. Saturday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm.
  • From 1st April to 30th September: Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 5pm. Saturday from 10am to 7pm. Sunday from 10am to 8pm
  • January 1st, May 1st, Good Friday, June 24th and December 25th closed.

- Clicking on the next link, a Pedralbes Monastery location map
.



Finally, clicking on the next link you will find links to more beautiful and interesting places of Barcelona, among them, the Gothic Quarter.


5 comentarios:

Unknown dijo...

Good Morning,

My name is Iván,I work in the Monastery of Pedralbes and I'm in charge of search and check of the information about the Monastery.

The main reason to send this e-mail is to update some information about the monastery:

Opening Times:
01st October to 31st March:
Tuesday to Friday 10-14 h
Saturday to Sunday 10-17 h

01st April to 30th September:
Tuesday to Friday 10-17 h
Saturday 10-19 h
Sunday 10-20 h

Webpage: http://monestirpedralbes.bcn.cat/

The Monastery doesn't belong to the MUHBA anymore.

Transport:
Bus: Number 75 also stops by Monastery of Pedralbes
Tourism Bus: The Blue Route is the one which stops by the Monastery

I would be delight if you are able to update the information whenever you can

I would like to hear from you,

Best Regards,

Iván

Frank dijo...

Hello Iván,

First of all thank you for your comment and your help to update this post.

I have already updated the information you gave me in your comment.

Best regards,

Frank

Frank dijo...

Hello Iván,

First of all thank you for your comment and your help to update this post.

I have already updated the information you gave me in your comment.

Best regards,

Frank

Unknown dijo...

Pedralbes tiene una bonita historia y un increíble patrimonio histórico. Además es un lugar ideal para vivir debido a su tranquilidad. Enhorabuena por el post

Frank dijo...

Hola RMC,

Muchas gracias por tu comentario.