Monestir de Pedralbes - Pedralbes Monastery Museum

About Pedralbes Monastery Museum

The Pedralbes Monastery, Monestir de Pedralbes is one of the most beautiful gothic buildings in Barcelona. Dating from the 14th Century, the Pedralbes Monastery Museum gives an insight into monastic life for the nuns. The Grand hall exhibits sacred art from the 14th to 20th century and the three-tier cloister with courtyard garden is geometric perfection.

Pedralbes Monastery History

The monastery was founded by King James II of Aragon (Jaume II) for his wife Elisenda de Montcada in 1326. It housed a community of nuns, mostly members of noble families. The queen gave the monastery a series of privileges, including the direct protection of the city of Barcelona, through the Consell de Cent (Council of the Hundred), who had the task to defend it in case of danger.

The monastery is dedicated to Saint Mary which gives it the full title of Reial Monestir de Santa Maria de Pedralbes or Royal Saint Mary Monastery in Pedralbes. The name Pedralbes derives from the latin Petras Albas because a white stone was laid as a foundation stone.

Elisenda also built a palace annexed to the monastery, where she lived after her husband's death in 1327. She died there in 1367. The remains of the palace were discovered in the 1970s.

The cloister has three floors, and a length of 40 meters, with a central garden of orange trees and pines. It is formed by wide arches on columns, whose capitals are decorated with the emblems of the Kings of Aragon and the House of Montcada. The sepulchre of Queen Elisenda, in alabaster stone, is located in one of the cloister's wings.

Also notable is the Chapel of St. Michael, housing several fresco paintings by Ferrer Bassa. Dating to 1346, they show the influence of the Italian painter Giotto.

Image Gallery for Pedralbes Monastery Museum

Click on any of the 68 images to open full screen gallery player

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Visiting Pedralbes Monastery Museum

Today the monastery is a museum. Opening times and prices can be found on the website. When I visited on a weekday in the morning I paid five euros and there were no queues.

Pedralbes Monastery Museum Opening Hours

Winter: 1st of October to 31st of March
• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00h to 14:00h.
• Saturday & Sunday: 10:00h to 17:00h
• Holiday's: 10:00h to 14:00h
Summer: 1st of April to 30th September
• Tuesday to Friday: 10:00h to 17:00h.
• Saturday: 10:00h to 19:00h
• Sunday: 10:00h to 20:00h
• Holiday's: 10:00h to 14:00h

Tickets are sold up to an hour before closing time and can be purchased online or in the ticket office.

Accessibility, mobility & Clothing for Pedralbes Monastery Museum

The Pedralbes Monastery has undertaken work to improve accessibility and now has an access ramp at the monastery entrance with an elevator to reach the first floor cloister.

There are no bicycle anchorage points near to the monastery.

The Monastery has a locker room for over sized bags. When I visited, I was allowed inside with my small 10L museum rucksack.

Day Trip Rucksack

Small 10L day trip and museums rucksack

Emergency Poncho

Small folded lightweight Water proof poncho for emergencies

0.8L water bottle

Reusable, refillable 1L water bottle.

Getting to Pedralbes Monastery Museum

Address: Baixada del Monestir 9, Barcelona. 08032

Nearest FGC is Reina Elisenda on the dark blue (L12) line. Note that L12 is a shuttle service between Sarrià FGC and Reina Elisenda FGC so you will need to change train at Sarrià.

The Bus Touristic's blue route stops nearby in Career de Bisbe Català.

Documents for Pedralbes Monastery Museum

Click on any one of the 1 PDFs to view in full screen and download.