The lost spaces of the Cartuja Monastery

Although the Cartuja Monastery in Granada is very well preserved, it has not always remained as we see it today, but has undergone certain modifications and renovations over the years. For this reason, it is important to know which are the lost areas of the Cartuja Monastery.

Would you like to know which areas disappeared from the Carthusian Monastery? Stay and read this post, we show you everything you need to know below!

The large cloister

The legacy of the Gómez Moreno Institute has very important data on the structure and composition of the large cloister of the Cartuja Monastery in Granada. This space had 76 arches supported by Tuscan columns and surrounded by a border of marvellous tiles.

In the centre of the cloister we could see a courtyard populated with myrtle, palm, willow and cypress trees and, on the sides, there were 26 cells for the monks. In addition, the corners of the cloister gave access to the cells, the prior's house, the chapter house, the church and the sacristy.

It is worth noting that the roof of the galleries had to be revised on several occasions and did not last long, as in 1754 it was replaced by plaster vaults. In addition, a year later, the earthquake in Lisbon forced the arches to be bricked up and, in 1810, the arrival of the French in Granada led to the first exclaustration, dismantling the cloister to sell the columns, marble and tiles.

The cells

Another of the sections that have changed over time in the Carthusian Monastery of the Charterhouse of Granada are the cells, since their morphology corresponded to the usual double-storey spatial distribution.

This was justified by the monks' need for a large space in which to maintain their bond with God, with their dwellings divided into different rooms.

However, the cloisters never created spaces for communal living, but rather there were specific cells, such as the apothecary's or the waxmaker's, but never a place far removed from the monks' eremitic life.

The prior's house

Finally, in order to get to know all the lost spaces of the Carthusian Monastery, we could not forget to mention the prior's house. This was located in the southwest corner of the cloister, in order to be close to the large cloister and, at the same time, to the compass and the exterior.

It was rebuilt in 1629 after a storm in the summer of that year, which made it necessary to demolish the previous house in order to drain the monks' cloister.

Why visit the Cartuja Monastery in Granada?

As you have seen throughout this article on the lost spaces of the Cartuja Monastery, this site has a great history and inside you can admire numerous rooms used by the Carthusian monks during their presence in Granada, highlighting the events that took place in each of the rooms.

If you would like more information about this monument, do not hesitate to buy your tickets to the Monasterio de la Cartuja de Granada on our official website of the Archdiocese of Granada.

Book your visit and let yourself be amazed by this wonderful temple!