PARES | Spanish Archives

Identification

Type:

Corporate Body

Preferred form:

Cartuja de Scala Dei (La Morera de Montsant, Tarragona, España)Alternative forms (other languages) Other forms

Fechas de Existencia:

from 1194 to 1835

History:

The Charterhouse of Scala Dei was the first one built in the Iberian Peninsula. Its history dates back to 1194, when Alfonso II of Aragon told the Carthusians to settle in Montsant. The monks coming from Provence first settled in Santa María de Poboleda, one of many hermitages located in the mountains. In 1203, Peter the Catholic, son and successor of Alfonso II, gave a large amount of land. So, the Carthusians decided to move and build a new convent. In 1215, they had not finished the construction but the building was habitable. The community quickly grew due to the donations. Therefore, in 1226, the community was formed by 12 monks as well as friars and lay brothers. The monastery lived a great development in the 13th century. This could be appreciated in the founding of new Carthusian monasteries from the house of Scala Dei. In 1270, the Charterhouse of San Pol del Maresme was founded and the one of Porta Coeli in Valencia in 1272. The construction work continued during the 14th and 15th centuries to enlarge the building. Thus, the construction of a second cloister with 12 cells started in 1333 as well as the construction of a third cloister with 6 cells in 1403. Scala Dei closed for good in 1835 when the Minister Mendizábal started applying his decrees of secularization.

Places

La Morera de Montsant (Tarragona, España)

Subjects

Monacato y órdenes religiosas

Mandates/Legal Sources

Description:

Real Decreto de 25 de julio de 1835 suprimiendo los monasterios y conventos de religiosos que no tengan 12 individuos profesos, de los cuales las dos terceras partes a lo menos sean de coro. BOE núm. 211, de 29 de julio de 1835, páginas 841 a 842.

Real Decreto de 11 de octubre de 1835 suprimiendo los monacales. BOE núm. 292, de 14 de octubre de 1835, página 1157.