Charterhouse of Santa María de la Defensión, Gothic monastery in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
The Charterhouse of Santa María de la Defensión is a Gothic monastery in Jerez de la Frontera built with pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stone buttresses. The structure unfolds across several wings and courtyards that once organized the monks' daily routines.
The monastery was founded in 1475 for Carthusian monks dedicated to prayer and contemplation within its walls. The building faced major disruption in the 1800s and was eventually designated for legal protection as a cultural landmark.
The monastery reflects how monks structured their daily life within these walls, with spaces designed for prayer, study, and communal work. The layout shows how religious communities organized themselves away from urban centers.
The site has limited access today due to ongoing conservation work and the building's delicate condition. Visitors should check locally beforehand and prepare for possible restrictions, since parts of it are still undergoing restoration.
The monastery holds artwork from the 1500s, including choir stalls and an altar by Juan de Oviedo de la Bandera. Some valuable paintings ended up in the museum of Cádiz after the monks had to leave the site during turbulent times.
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