The monastery was founded by Queen Elisenda de Montcada. Her husband, King Jacob II (Jaume II), supported her and dedicated the monastery to Holy Mary. Ever since, it has been administered by the nuns of the Order of Saint Clare.

The construction of the Monestir de Pedralbes

The construction work of the monastery started in March 1326. Queen Elisenda chose its location in the village of Sarrià, which back then was far out of the city of Barcelona. The name "Pedralbes" derives from the Latin Petras Albas (white stones), a white stone is the cornerstone of the apsis. On May 3, 1327 the nuns moved into the monastery.

Since the monastery was built within just one year, it was not influenced by any other architectural styles and is a fine example of particularly homogeneous gothic architecture in Catalonia.
It was not before the 15th century that the third and lowest storey was added to the cloister.

Visiting today's monastery

On the eastern side, the church with one nave is located. Inside the church, on the right side next to a presbytery - a choir which is only accessible by the clergy - the tomb of Queen Elisenda is located. There is something particular about Queen Elisenda's tomb: the sarcophagus is double-sided. On the cloister side Elisenda is figured as a mourning widow, on the church side as a queen.

There is no direct entry to the interior of the monastery from the church. The entrance is located only a few steps away from the church. You can enter the cloister from there. It is recommended to follow the route that leads through the monastery in an anticlockwise direction.

The first interesting sight is the small St. Michael's chapel on the right-hand side by the church wall. Its frescoes from 1343 depict scenes from the lives of Jesus and Mary. Note the three-dimensional quality of the frescoes that remind of the Italian painter Giotto, who was considered the first modern painter.

The next room in the cloister contains the tomb of Queen Elisenda mentioned above. On this side you'll find more tombs of Reverend Mothers who lived in this monastery.

On the north side of the cloister, there are several utility rooms, the nuns' day cells and the staircase to the second floor, half of those can be visited. The third floor is closed to the public.

The museum is housed in the former dormitory of the monastery. In a tour you can marvel at pieces of religious art as well as everyday objects of the monastery dating from the 14th to the 20th century. In the middle cloister there are several tiny cells in which the nuns used to pray.

Walking downstairs from the museum, you can continue the monastery tour through the lower cloister. On the west side, there are utility rooms, such as the dining hall and the kitchen, and in the basement the monastery's store rooms are located. One of the store rooms contains a series of dioramas of religious scenes which depict the life history of Jesus.

The gardens of the Monastery of Pedralbes

The monastery certainly wouldn't be as beautiful and impressive without its park in the courtyard. You won't find a quieter place in all Barcelona - except for the birds singing in the trees and the gurgling of the Renaissance fountain in the centre of the courtyard you won't hear a sound.

Large palm trees and cypresses provide cool shade. From the lower cloister, there are several ways to the gardens.

Sisterhood of the Order of Saint Clare

In 1212, Clare of Assisi joined Francis of Assisi's Dominican Order and soon founded the Order of Saint Clare, later also dubbed the "Second Order" of the Franciscans.
The Order of Saint Clare still administers the monastery. Today, the nuns live in a more modern annexe.

Tips for the visit of the Monestir de Pedralbes

If you are in Barcelona in the summer, you should visit the monastery during the midday heat. Inside the church and the monastery and in the gardens it is pleasantly cool.