San Salvador de Nogal de las Huertas
Encyclopedia
San Salvador de Nogal de las Huertas
is a Cluniac monastery, the oldest surviving one built in the "Palentine style", the romanesque idiom
of the province of Palencia. It was founded in 1063 by the Countess Elvira Sánchez, and originally constructed with a central nave
and a square apse
. In the mid-twelfth century, Rodrigo, youngest son of Count Pedro González de Lara
and his wife Eva, became its prior
, an unprecedented move for a male member of an aristocratic family in Castile
. In the thirteenth century two lateral naves (aisle
s) with the pointed arch
es typical of the Gothic style
were added. In June 1931 its ruins were declared a monumento histórico–artístico, nowadays called a conjunto histórico.
Nogal de las Huertas
Nogal de las Huertas is a municipality located in the province of Palencia, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2004 census , the municipality has a population of 62 inhabitants.It is the site of the monastery of San Salvador, founded in 1063....
is a Cluniac monastery, the oldest surviving one built in the "Palentine style", the romanesque idiom
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
of the province of Palencia. It was founded in 1063 by the Countess Elvira Sánchez, and originally constructed with a central nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
and a square apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
. In the mid-twelfth century, Rodrigo, youngest son of Count Pedro González de Lara
Pedro González de Lara
Pedro González de Lara was a Castilian magnate. He served Alfonso VI as a young man, and later became the lover of Alfonso's heiress, Queen Urraca. He may have joined the First Crusade in the following of Raymond IV of Toulouse, earning the nickname el Romero...
and his wife Eva, became its prior
Prior
Prior is an ecclesiastical title, derived from the Latin adjective for 'earlier, first', with several notable uses.-Monastic superiors:A Prior is a monastic superior, usually lower in rank than an Abbot. In the Rule of St...
, an unprecedented move for a male member of an aristocratic family in Castile
Kingdom of Castile
Kingdom of Castile was one of the medieval kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. It emerged as a political autonomous entity in the 9th century. It was called County of Castile and was held in vassalage from the Kingdom of León. Its name comes from the host of castles constructed in the region...
. In the thirteenth century two lateral naves (aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s) with the pointed arch
Arch
An arch is a structure that spans a space and supports a load. Arches appeared as early as the 2nd millennium BC in Mesopotamian brick architecture and their systematic use started with the Ancient Romans who were the first to apply the technique to a wide range of structures.-Technical aspects:The...
es typical of the Gothic style
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
were added. In June 1931 its ruins were declared a monumento histórico–artístico, nowadays called a conjunto histórico.