The weather in San Lorenzo de El Escorial is cold and does not meet our expectations at all. So we decide to visit the interior of the palace and monastery complex. Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial The Royal Site of San Lorenzo de El Escorial, commonly known as El Escorial, was commissioned […]
Monastery
Arqueta de Sant Martirià – Reliquary of the Saint Martirianus
In the afternoon of our last day in Banyoles, Marta José Maria from Arqueolitic led us again to the monastery of Sant Esteve de Banyoles. Please watch the 4k UHD video here The monastery was founded in the 9th century by the Benedictine abbot Bonitus. War and earthquakes have destroyed it repeatedly. An important library […]
Exploring the old town of Banyoles
Banyoles is always worth a visit. The reason for this is not only the lake, but also because of the wonderful old town from the 14th century and the surroundings. Location The Catalan city of Banyoles is the capital of the district of Pla de l’Estany in the province of Girona. From here you can […]
Montserrat – Catalunya
Montserrat is about 40 km north-west of Barcelona. Montserrat is at the same time name of the monastery and of sand stone mountains. It is one of the landmarks of Catalonia. The highest peak, Sant Jeroni is 1,236 m high. From Barcelona we go by train in about 30 minutes to the lower cable way […]
Kastraki
The village of Kastraki (approx. 2000 inhabitants) is an ideal starting point to visit the Meteora monasteries. Those seeking peace will find accommodations and nice tavernas. Every year, at the saint’s day of Georgiou, boys attach the headscarves of their adored after the blessing by the priest in a cave, where in former days a […]
Sera Monastery – Tibet
The Sera Monastery about 2 km north of Lhasa is one of the three major monasteries of the Gelukpa university monasteries of Tibet The Sera Monastery once held 7000 Buddhist monks, yet today there are only 250. Yet this monastery is equally important as the Drepung Monastery. Here the monastery’s own print shop can be […]
Meteora – the monasteries suspended in the air
The Meteora monasteries are located near Kalambaka in central Greece. Since 1988 Metéora is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Past Larissa, we reach the fantastic Meteora monasteries. As of the 11th century, 24 cloisters were built on 300 m of a high conglomeration rock over the village Kalabaka. 6 of them are still […]
Mount Athos
Mount Athos is a monastic republic, which under international law belongs to Greece, but it is managed autonomously. The access for women is strictly prohibited – out of reverence for the Virgin Mary. In recent years, the modernization of the monasteries were funded by the EU with 150 million EUR, although it is rumored that […]
Klosterneuburg Monastery – Lower Austria
Klosterneuburg Monastery in Lower Austria was founded by Margrave Leopold III and his wife Agnes of Germany in the year 1114. Due to his foundation of monasteries, such as Heiligenkreuz Abbey, Kleinmariazell Sancturay and Seitenstretten Abbey, Margrave Leopold III was canonized. Since 1663 he is patron saint of Austria. 1133 the monastery was handed to […]