Abbey of Santa Maria la Real de Huelgas
| Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas | |
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Native name Spanish: Monasterio de Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas |
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Facade of the monastery
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| Location | Burgos, Castile and León, Spain |
| Founded | 1187 |
| Built | 12th-13th centuries |
| Architectural style(s) | Romanesque, Almohad, Gothic |
| Governing body | Cistercian nuns |
| Official name: Monasterio de Santa María la Real de las Huelgas | |
| Type | Non-movable |
| Criteria | Monument |
| Designated | June 3, 1931 |
| Reference no. | RI-51-0000453 |
 Location of Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas in Spain
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The Abbey of Santa María la Real de Las Huelgas is a monastery of Cistercian nuns located approximately 1.5 km west of the city of Burgos in Spain. The word huelgas, which usually refers to "labor strikes" in modern Spanish, refers in this case to land which had been left fallow. Historically, the monastery has been the site of many weddings of royal families, both foreign and Spanish, including that of Edward I of England to Eleanor of Castile in 1254, for example. The defensive tower of the Abbey is also the birthplace of King Peter I of Castile.
The abbey was founded in 1187 by Alfonso VIII of Castile, at the behest of his wife, Eleanor of England, daughter of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Until the 16th century, it enjoyed many royal privileges granted to it by the king, including exemption from taxes, the lordship of many villages and territories (governed by the monastery's abbess), and the possession of many of the royal families' valued personal items, most of them religious. It is even claimed that, until the Council of Trent, the abbess was able to hear confession and give absolution, like a priest.
In 1199 the monastery was incorporated into the Cistercian Order and became the burial place of the royal family. Constance, the youngest daughter of Alfonso, joined the Cistercians there. She was the first known as the Lady of Las Huelgas. This position was held as well by other women from the royal family, including her niece Constance and her grand-niece Berengaria, and maintained the close connection between the community and their royal patrons. Queen Eleanor and Queen Berengaria were both documented as supporting and being involved with the abbey. While members of the royal family were secular leaders of the monastery, abbesses such as Sancha Garcia were spiritual authorities.
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