Franciscanos - Ourense, Galicia, España - Abbeys, Convents and Monasteries on Waymarking.com

"The beautiful cloister of San Francisco, a jewel of Galician Gothic , bears witness to the Franciscan convent that existed in the upper part of the city, on the slopes of Montealegre. The convent was founded in the 14th century, after the fire that destroyed the original, located in what is now the Plaza del Corregidor . The religious order would remain here until the 19th century, when the convent was transformed into an infantry barracks...

This change of use (it would remain as a barracks until 1984) produced numerous reforms. One of the most significant, without a doubt, was the transfer of the head and facade of its church in 1951 to what is still its current location in San Lázaro Park . The cloister, now open to visitors, was thus orphaned.

Declared a Historic-Artistic Monument in 1923, the Cloister of San Francisco has survived its haphazard history by preserving virtually intact the beauty of its 63 arches, all decorated with plant, animal (real and fantastic) and human motifs carved in stone. Although considered Gothic in style, the Romanesque influence is clear.

The capitals of the 63 arches of this cloister are a beautiful catalog of mythological beings, animals and plant motifs carved in stone.

The arches of the cloister are supported by double columns except the first four and last four of each row. They are distributed around a seemingly square floor plan, as neither side has the same number of arches. On the side walls are preserved several tombs and the columns of the chapter house. The access to the funeral chapel of the Sandoval under a scalloped arch is remarkable.

The nave of the old church is still preserved, attached to the cloister. Attached to this by the south is the old chapel and a room now converted into an exhibition space, in which part of the funds of the Provincial Archaeological Museum are exhibited . Next to them, in the space that was the old garden of the convent, is the Cemetery of San Francisco , a Gothic cemetery in which rest some of the great names of Galician culture."

Full name of the abbey/monastery/convent: Clasutro de San Francisco Address: Rúa a Granxa, 1 Ourense, Galicia España 32005 Religious affiliation: franciscan Date founded/constructed: s. XIV Status of Use: Converted to Other Use Web Site: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   12/22/2020 Ariberna visited it