Tibães Monastery

Tibães Monastery (Portuguese Mosteiro de São Martinho de Tibães or simply Mosteiro de Tibães ) is a former Benedictine abbey and is located in the municipality of Mire de Tibães , Braga district , Portugal . It was the mother monastery of the Benedictine order in Portugal and thus also of all Brazilian monasteries of the order. It contains the Church of Tibães and the Cross of Tibães and is located about 6 km northeast of the city center of Braga .

history

middle Ages

Father Francisco de São João Baptista Moura OSB, Abbot General of the Portuguese-Brazilian Benedictine Congregation (painting in the Tibães Monastery around 1800)

The monastery was founded at the end of the 10th and beginning of the 11th century. In the last third of the 11th century it was rebuilt by the nobleman Paio Guterres da Silva. With royal support it developed into one of the wealthiest and most influential monasteries in the north of Portugal.

16.-18. century

In the 16th century the Benedictine order took over the monastery. In 1567, a bull from Pope Pius V made Tibães the mother monastery of all Portuguese and therefore also Brazilian monasteries of the order.

In the course of its history and due to its importance in the Portuguese colonial empire, the monastery has brought together extensive holdings, including sacred art and books. In the 17th century, the monastery land, among others in has Moncao , Viana do Castelo , Nobrega, Ponte da Barca , Amares , Barcelos , Guimarães and Braga .

1628–1661 the church and cloister were rebuilt in Mannerist style ( Mannerism ) by the architects Manuel Álvares and João Turriano. The new wings of the monastery will be completed by the beginning of the 18th century.

Numerous alterations and extensions in the 17th and 18th centuries (including by the architect André Soares) lead to stylistic impressions of Baroque and Rococo , which have an impact on northern Portugal and the overseas colonies. In 1757–1760, Soares created the main altar in Portuguese Rococo. Some of the gilded wood carvings are made by José de Santo António Vilaça. Many of the statues in the church were created by the sculptor Frei Cipriano da Cruz.

19th century

In 1834, after the Miguelista War , the male religious orders in Portugal are dissolved. With the exception of the church, sacristy and Claustro do Cemitério (cloister), the monastery properties, and finally also the monastery buildings in 1864, are auctioned off to the public. The latter systems were used by the local parish.

Part of the ensemble, including the Claustro do Refeitório (cloister) and the refectory , were destroyed in a fire in 1894.

20th century

The cross of Tibães in front of the church is included in the register of national monuments in Portugal by decree 136 of June 16, 1910.

Monastery, church and other architectural components are classified as buildings of public interest on March 27, 1944.

In 1986 the Portuguese state acquired the Tibães Monastery. Already in an advanced bad condition, the ensemble was assigned to the Instituto Português do Património Cultural (Portuguese Institute for Cultural Heritage) in 1987. Then the restoration began, which continues to this day.

In 1990 it was decided to set up a museum.

21st century

In 2008 the 23rd Iberian Summit was held in the monastery .

Since 2009 one wing of the monastery has been inhabited by the community of the international Catholic missionary family "Donum Dei", belonging to the Carmelite Order .

In 2010 a guest house with nine rooms and the restaurant "Eau Vive de Tibães" with space for 50 guests were opened.

In 2015, the Portuguese Parliament recommended that the government classify the Tibães Monastery as a national monument.

gallery

Monastery seen from the forecourt with the church in the foreground
Monastery seen from the garden with the chimneys of the kitchen in the right half of the picture and the church in the background
Nave with a view of the altar and the typical Portuguese gilded wood carvings
Organ in the nave
Detail of the wood carving in the nave
Putti - a detail of the wood carving in the nave
Detail of the wood carving in the nave
Chapter house with the typical Portuguese tiles on the wall
Monastery kitchen
Cloister "Claustro do Cemitério"