Monastery of San Andrés de Arroyo, Cistercian monastery in Prádanos de Ojeda, Spain
Monastery of San Andrés de Arroyo is a Cistercian monastery in Prádanos de Ojeda featuring a church with two naves and multiple chapels. The complex also includes a cloister and chapterhouse with architectural elements spanning different periods.
The monastery was founded as a female community in the early 13th century, having originated from San Millán before becoming Santa María and San Andrés de Arroyo. This transformation reflects an important phase in the development of Cistercian presence in the region.
The cloister features pointed arcades supported by twin columns decorated with plant motifs that reflect Cistercian building traditions. This design continues to define the character of the inner courtyard today.
Visitors can explore the church, cloister, and chapterhouse while respecting that active communities of nuns maintain residence in other sections of the complex. It helps to move at a relaxed pace and be mindful of the areas where the religious community still lives.
The chapterhouse holds Gothic tombs of the first abbesses Mencía and María. A 16th century jurisdictional pillar called rollo also stands here, marking the secular authority the monastery once held.
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