The origins of the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa (Real Cartuja de Valldemossa) dates back to the 14th Century, when King Jaume II built this palace for his son, Sancho. The initial monastery, built in 1399, at the time philosopher and mystic Ramon Llull lived on the island, was the king’s wish to open a new religious order, dedicated to San Bruno. The Gothic church and its cloister could not be saved but the building complex expanded in time, with the addition of several other elements. In 1717 showed up the Baroque monastery, surrounded by large monastic chambers, created as homes for the monks. However, only a part of the larger project was totally completed till 1835. At that time, the Spanish politician Mendizábal decided that all church properties will be transferred to the state and subsequently, the church and the adjacent buildings become public. The rest of the complex was divided in nine parts, each of them kept as private properties up until today.
Nowadays, most of the architectural ensemble of the Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa, like the church, the pharmacy, the monks’ chambers of the abbot, are full of documents attesting monastic life. Two specific rooms are related to the visit of Frederic Chopin and Aurore Dupin in 1838 and used by the famous artists as a romantic refuge. Aurore Dupin (or George Sand) wrote a book named “A winter in Majorca”, describing the visit, as a testimony. The Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa is now hosting works belonging to Miró, Coll Bardolet, Tapies, Picasso or Juli Ramis.
The Royal Charterhouse of Valldemossa can be accessed from the capital city of Palma following the MA-1130 route to the small but romantic village of Valldemossa, located in the northwestern part of the island of Mallorca. It is now considered as one of the most important tourist attraction for every culture lover visiting the area.
Related Listing
-
Diocesa Museum
Mallorca has always been a quiet location and the perfect pilgrimage place for those looking to ...
-
Museu del Fang
Hosted by a small windmill in Sa Cabaneta, a tiny village in the municipality of Marratxi, Museu ...
-
Robert Graves Museum
The renowned British writer, Robert Graves bought a property in Deia, at the beginning of the 20th ...
Recent Reviews