Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste

The pleasant architectural discretion of this monastery and of the adjacent "Royal Room" of Charles V contrasts with the worldwide fame of the place and the almost mythical level it reached in the culture of the Modern Age as a retreat for the Emperor, who after abdicating withdrew to this Hieronymite monastery to prepare for his death, which took occurred here on 21 September, 1558.

This Hieronymite monastery had been founded in 1408-1414 under the patronage of Prince Ferdinand, brother of Henry III. One of its cloisters is Gothic and the other is Renaissance, contemporary with the church built in 1508-1525. As a result of the General Law of Expropriation of 1836, the complex was sold and began to deteriorate until 1857 when it was bought by the Marquis of Mirabel, who began to repair it and reopened the church for worship. It was declared a historic-artistic monument by a Decree of 3 June 1931 and restoration work began after the Civil War, having been ceded to the State, directed by architect José Manuel González-Valcárcel, and was completed in 1958.

The "Royal Quarters" were built by Gaspar de Vega in 1554-55 to the Emperor's instructions. They are remarkable for their simplicity and logical distribution as a religious retreat, located next to the altar of the church under which the emperor asked to be buried and from which Philip II ordered the remains of his father to be moved to the Royal Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial. The orchard extends out from below the emperor's windows, with a large pond that served both for irrigation and for the retired monarch to fish.

The Monastery of San Jerónimo de Yuste came under the care of Patrimonio Nacional in 2004.

IN YUSTE, THE FOLLOWING SPACES STAND OUT:

GHOTIC CLOISTER

This space from the 15th century is the oldest part of the Monastery to be preserved It is characterised by its austere style and the bare granite stonework.

 

RENAISSANCE CLOISTER

The Renaissance cloister, also called the monastic cloister, has a square floor plan and is more luminous and less humid than the Gothic cloister and exhibits a greater number of decorative elements.

 

CHAMBER OF BEDROOM OF CHARLES V

Charles V slept in this room, lined with black cloth in memory of his late wife Isabella of Portugal, which communicated directly with the chancel of the Church, using the same arrangement as Philip II in the Monastery of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

 

GARDENS AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT OF THE YUSTE MONASTERY

Located in privileged surroundings, the Monastery is integrated into the La Vera region, and is notable for its gardens and especially the pond that served for the Emperor Charles V himself to practice fishing. The abundant water in this region of Cáceres, together with the fruit trees, makes the Monastery an idyllic place to enjoy at any time of year.