Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña, Trappist monastery in Castrillo del Val, Spain
The Monastery of San Pedro de Cardeña is a Cistercian monastery in Castrillo del Val featuring a 16th-century church that blends Romanesque and Gothic elements. The complex includes cloisters, monks' cells, a kitchen, and a refectory that reveal how religious communities lived and worked here over centuries.
The monastery was founded in the 10th century and underwent several renovations, especially during the Renaissance when it acquired its current church. It served as a refuge during turbulent times and was later shaped by Cistercian monks who have tended it for generations.
Cistercian monks living here run vineyards and produce traditional herbal liqueurs as part of their monastic routine centered on prayer and work. Visitors can experience this living tradition directly by walking through the monastery and observing the monks as they go about their daily tasks.
The monastery welcomes visitors on certain weekdays and Sundays with tours led by the monks, though visits pause during religious services. The site is easy to navigate on foot with flat paths through the compound, though some areas have narrow passages between buildings.
The 13th-century Chapter House contains a small museum displaying objects from the monastery's long history, including old manuscripts and religious items. This collection reveals the daily reality and intellectual work of the monks across the centuries.
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