Convent of the Minim Friars in La Fresneda
Step into the fascinating history of the Convent of the Minim Friars in La Fresneda, a 16th-century Renaissance gem that has reinvented itself, transforming from a place of prayer into an exclusive hotel that preserves its rich heritage.
History and transformation of the Convent of the Minim Friars
Near the Capilla del Pilar, the Minim friars built this convent, which they occupied for nearly 300 years. Although much of the original building has been lost, the façade and some of its secondary dependencies have been preserved, restored and transformed into a high-quality hotel.
Adverse weather conditions led the friars to leave their original location at the Sanctuary of the Virgen de Gracia and build this Renaissance-style convent in the 16th century.
From religious to civil ownership: a change of hands
The former convent is today a hotel, but… how did a building of such a strongly religious character pass into civilian hands?
Shortly before the Second Republic, around 1930, the convent was privately acquired by a family. This family has maintained it to this day, restoring and transforming it into an elegant hotel that preserves the history and architectural beauty of this former convent. This acquisition is explained by the consequences of the 19th-century disentailments.
From prayer to farmyard: the drastic change of use of the Convent of the Minim Friars
Over the years, as ownership changed, the use of the convent changed drastically and its fine structures deteriorated. What were once chapels of worship and presbyteries ended up being transformed into stables and farmyards, while cloisters and gardens became vegetable plots and cultivated fields.
Description
A three-storey building in ashlar masonry. Today it retains only the Plateresque church doorway and part of its secondary dependencies. The entrance portal opens as a triumphal arch, a round arch with a modillion at the keystone; it is framed by two fluted pilasters supporting the entablature, in which metopes with floral decoration alternate with triglyphs; the spandrels are set within tondos. The upper floors feature balconies and flat-arched openings.
The building is crowned by a large-volume dove-breast cornice. It is currently converted into a hotel and restaurant.
Matarraña · Tourism
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