Greyfriars, Medieval Franciscan monastery in City of London, England.
Greyfriars was a Franciscan monastery complex in the City of London featuring a large friary church, teaching facilities, and extensive theological collections. The site occupied considerable space and was architecturally complex, with different areas for the friars' life and scholarly work.
The monastery was founded in 1225 and became an important institution with strong royal support from two French queens during the 1300s. It was dissolved in 1538 during the Reformation when church properties were seized.
The site served as a major center where scholars gathered to study theology and philosophy, shaping the intellectual life of the city. People came from across Europe to learn from the friars who taught here.
The site sits in the heart of the City of London surrounded by modern streets, but some original elements like garden areas remain visible. Visitors can walk around different parts, though some areas are more accessible than others.
The monastery served as the final burial place for several notable people, including two French princesses and a woman known both as a saint and a fraud. These graves made the site an important pilgrimage destination before its dissolution.
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