The compass of the Cartuja Monastery in Granada

The structure of the Carthusian monasteries was designed taking into account the work that had to be carried out so that it could be properly administered, as well as having all the rooms necessary for the life of the laymen. For this reason, it is important to know the peculiarities of the compass of the Carthusian Monastery of the Charterhouse of Granada.

Would you like to discover the most relevant facts about the compass of the Cartuja Monastery in the city of Granada? Stay and read this post, we will show you everything you need to know below!

The original layout of the compass of the Cartuja Monastery

A compass is the enclosure or open ground that precedes a convent or monastery, serving as a place of transition between the public and private spaces.

In the case of the Monasterio de la Cartuja in Granada, its initial appearance is different from what we found in its origins, as all the outbuildings of the compass disappeared when it was abandoned after the Disentailment. Nevertheless, we do have a notable documentation on the dimensions and distribution of its different areas.

Thus, as soon as the entrance gate was crossed, there was a small porter's lodge on the left that communicated with the porter's house, which was served by a lay brother. Then, next to this house, there was an area that corresponded to the friars' dormitory.

Closing the left wing of the compass is the hostelry, a room that was used to house travellers or the relatives of the religious. We could also see a passageway that led to a service courtyard with a mill.

Opposite the porter's lodge was the chapel of the Rosary, which was open to any of the faithful who wished to enter to pray and, in the south wing, there was a narrow passageway used as a storeroom.

On the other hand, the servants‘ and labourers’ houses were attached to the west wall of the dining room, and the kitchen is still preserved under the refectory.

The doorway

The compass doorway is Plateresque in style and is attributed to Juan García de Pradas, built in 1524. It has a semicircular arch and the coats of arms of Castile and León.

Integrated into the pilasters are two narrow niches, crowning the whole, a third one above the keystone of the door, where there is a wooden image of the Virgin and Child from the 16th century, which has now been replaced by a copy. The original is in the city's Museum of Fine Art.

The cobblestones

The paving of the compass of the Cartuja Monastery in Granada corresponds to a paving technique in which different-coloured pebbles embedded in mortar were used. This type of paving is known as ‘enmorrillado’ or ‘enchinado’.

This paving occupies the section before the staircase, taking up the entire width of the compass. It is decorated in 7 sections with a large coat of arms and the date of the work (1679), 2 hunting scenes on the sides and 2 scenes of mace-bearers facing each other.

The staircase

Finally, to know everything about the compass of the Cartuja Monastery in Granada, we could not forget to mention its impressive staircase.

Cristóbal de Vílchez, a stonemason from the city of Baeza, was responsible for the construction of the double staircase leading to the church and the monastery itself. It corresponds to a large staircase carved in Sierra Elvira stone.

The staircase ascends with three flights of steps, the arms joining in a central platform from which the last flight of steps leads to the terrace, interrupted by the façade of the church.

As for its decoration, simple plaques on the balustrade, topped with balls crowned by pinnacles, maintain the sobriety of the exterior.

Why visit the Monasterio de la Cartuja de Granada?

As we have seen throughout this article on the compass of the Monasterio de la Cartuja de Granada, from the entrance we can begin to appreciate the artistic, architectural and historical value of the site, showing us also how the life of the Carthusian order developed.

If you would like more information about the Carthusian Monastery of Granada, do not hesitate to buy your tickets on the official website of the archdiocese of Granada. Book your visit and be amazed by this wonderful monument!