This is the Monastery of Guadalupe (Cáceres): visiting hours, prices

El monumental heritage of Extremadura, which I think is not sufficiently known, has one of its main exponents in the Gu monasteryadalupe, which until recently I had not had the opportunity to visit.

More than a monastery of a religious congregation, that of Guadalupe it seems like a great fortification, which stands out in the mountain range of the Valluercas region, within the limits of the Cáceres province with that of Toledo.

And this great monument is located in the center of the town from Guadalupe, a place whose charming corners of popular architecture It already justifies a getaway to visit it.

This beautiful historical complex is now also a stage of what is known as Route of Isabel the Catholic in Extremadura.

Curiosities history of the Guadalupe monastery

This location already tells us the origins of the majestic building, of which I am going to highlight some of them. curiosities of its history.

When they tell you the origins of the monastery of Guadalupe, its story reminds you of others already known.

It is said that at the end of the 13th century, on the margins of the Guadalupe River, an image of The Virgin, which in the 8th century had been hidden before the invasion of the Muslims.

This led to the construction of a hermitage, and in 1340 the King Alfonso XI He granted land to the people who had settled next to it, which was the seed of the aforementioned town of Guadalupe.

Years later, in 1389, it was when the king John I granted to the monastic order of the Jeronimos the custody of Guadalupe monastery, which they maintained until 1835, when the confiscation of Mendizábal.

After functioning as a secular parish depending on the Archdiocese of Toledo, in 1908 the monastery passed into the hands of the Franciscans, the community that runs it to this day.

Isabel la Católica and the monastery of Guadalupe

During the centuries of its history, the monastery was the protagonist of numerous historical facts, as when in 1464 the King Henry IV of Castile He visited him on his trip with the Infanta Isabel to arrange her wedding with him then King of Portugal, Alfonso V…which didn't happen.

But that visit led to what would later be Isabel the Catholic You will be captivated by the beauty of the surroundings.

In fact, he later went to the monastery to give thanks for the surrender of the Muslims in Granada.

And, subsequently, his will was preserved for some time in Guadalupe.

Christopher Columbus in the monastery of Guadalupe

Another historical event that occurred in Guadalupe, which during your visit you will know thanks to a plaque on the façade of the monastery, is related to Christopher Columbus.

The large discoverer, who had entrusted himself to the Virgin of Guadalupe On his first expedition to America, upon his return he took two indigenous people who were baptized in a baptismal font.

You can see this stack now in the fountain in the center of the square that opens before the main façade of the sanctuary.

What to see when visiting the Guadalupe Monastery

I tell you that during your visit of the Guadalupe monastery in the Cáceres province You will see really interesting corners.

If you are traveling in the city ​​of caceres, you can make the visit by signing up for a excursion eight hours with a guide in Spanish that takes you to the town of Guadalupe, where in addition to walking through its corners, you will get to know the monastery.

This excursion is completed with a visit to the nearby historic town of Trujillo.

Mudejar cloister of the Guadalupe monastery

In this regard, inside it stands out the Mudejar cloister, also known as The miracles, which was built at the end of the 14th century.

In this cloister you will be struck by the beautiful Mudejar temple that you can see in the center of it.

But in its different rooms you will find samples of various architectural styles, from the Gothic and the aforementioned Mudejar, to the Renaissance, Baroque and Neoclassical.

After the aforementioned confiscation, the monastery remained almost in ruins, until 1908 the Franciscans They took charge of it until today.

Embroidery Museum in Guadalupe Monastery

Since then the building has been recovered, and some of the old monastic rooms have been converted into museums.

Thus, in 1928, in the old refectory of the Hieronymite monks was inaugurated by King Alfonso XIII the awesome embroidery museum, with more than 200 pieces made in the monastery's own workshop.

Choir Book Museum at the Guadalupe Monastery

Also noteworthy is the museum of the Miniados: choir books, located in the old Chapter Room, and which is considered one of the most important in the world.

And a very important milestone in the history of the Monastery of Guadalupe was his statement Unesco, in 1993 as a monument Heritage.

This should not surprise you because, in addition, Guadeloupe preserves a large collection of artistic works, such as paintings by Zurbaran, El Greek y Goya.

This fact has undoubtedly led, along with the great veneration of pilgrims to the image of The Virgin, that the monastery has become one of the most visited monuments in our country today.

Schedule to visit the Monastery of Guadalupe in Cáceres

The Visiting hours of the Monastery of Guadalupe in Cáceres They are every day, from 9,30:13 a.m. to 15,30 p.m. and from 18:XNUMX p.m. to XNUMX p.m.

During these times you can also visit the Camarín of the Virgin of Guadalupe.

Guadalupe monastery ticket prices

The ticket prices They are, generally, 5 euros; retirees, 4 euros; children under 15 years old, 2,50 euros.

Map: how to get to the Guadalupe Monastery

El Guadalupe monastery You find it an hour and a half east of the city ​​of caceres, and a little less than 3 hours southwest of Madrid, along the A5 and turning off Navalmoral of the Slaughter.