Mission stations at the foot of the Popocatépetl
The mission stations at the foot of the Popocatépetl are part of the Spanish missions with whose help the Spaniards sought to convert the Aztecs and other indigenous groups to the Christian faith since the 16th century . In the area of the Popocatépetl volcano in central Mexico, Friars of the Franciscans (OFM) , the Dominicans and the Augustinians established religious centers. Fourteen of them were included under the official name Earliest 16th century monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl (literally: "Earliest monasteries of the 16th century on the slopes of Popocatépetl") in the list of World Heritage Sites of Mexico .
Mission stations
On the recommendation of Hernán Cortés , one of the most important means by which the Spaniards sought to increase their influence in the conquered territories was the establishment of mission stations to spread the Catholic faith .
Numerous monasteries were built for this purpose, first by Franciscans, then by Dominicans and Augustinians. Fourteen of these monasteries within a radius of more than 60 kilometers around the volcano were declared World Heritage Sites in 1994 : In the state of Morelos : Atlatlauhcan , Cuernavaca , Hueyapan , Tetela del Volcán , Yautepec , Ocuituco , Tepoztlán , Tlayacapan , Totolapan , Yecapixtla and Zacualpan de Amilpasualpan . In the state of Puebla it is the monasteries of Calpan , Huejotzingo and Tochimilco . In addition to these, however, many other monasteries in the same area are of equal importance (e.g. the Franciscan monasteries in Atlixco and Huaquechula in the state of Puebla, or Chalco in the Estado de México).
These monasteries are impressive witnesses of their time. With their square construction and their imposing height, they towered over the settlements of the people in the area. The additional strong walls that surround them make them appear even more distinctly as castles.
Franciscan convent of Huejotzingo
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One of the most beautiful Franciscan convents in the region is located in Huejotzingo in the state of Puebla at an altitude of 2,100 meters. This convent was established in the 16th century. Franciscan missionaries founded the first monastery in Huejotzingo in 1524. The first buildings on the site of today's convent can be traced back to 1545.
The church of the convent resembles a fortress, especially because of its height and its sober facade. The single-nave church has clear Gothic features , especially in the choir and apse . The altarpiece was furnished in Plateresque style and decorated with sculptures and pictures by the Flemish painter Simon Pereyns. Fragments of wall paintings can still be seen on a side wall. The pulpit and organ from the 17th century are also impressive.
Outside the church there is an atrium, on the walls of which various engravings and coats of arms remind of the conquerors. The entrances to the refectory , the kitchen and the sacristy can be found from the surrounding cloister .
Cuernavaca is the capital of Morelos . Its cathedral is a world heritage site . Its construction began in 1533 to serve as a church or shrine for the neighboring Franciscan convent . There is an open chapel in Gothic pillars, which were built between 1536 and 1538 in the immediate vicinity of the cathedral. Parts of the wall paintings from the 16th century can still be seen in the monastery of the convent today. The Third Order Chapel is in the atrium. It was built in the Baroque style and has a beautiful carved wood altar.
Augustinian Convent of Atlatlauhcan
Atlatlauhcan is a place in Morelos State, where an Augustinian convent was built between 1570 and 1600. There are small chapels in the atrium in front of the church. The facade of the temple has a bell tower on top. There is an open chapel on the left, behind which a tall tower has been built. It has a portico that leads to the monastery, the vault of which consists of a hexagonal coffered ceiling, the coffers are painted with frescoes.
Augustinian and Franciscan Convent of Yecapixtla
Yecapixtla is a municipality in Morelos . Franciscans arrived here in 1525 and built a modest chapel , which was later replaced by an imposing monastery castle architecture. The Augustinian Jorge de Ávila was in charge of the construction. In front of the church is an atrium with chapels.
The facade of the church is beautiful; the decoration includes cherubins and floral motifs. It has a Gothic rose window above the facade, which is surrounded by carved decorations. Under the narrow triangular gable that crowns the facade is a symbol that recalls the five wounds of Francis of Assisi , which he suffered based on the crucifixion wounds of Christ. Another symbol that shows an arrow in a heart is on the left, which shows the Augustinian Rule.
Franciscan Convent of Calpan
The Franciscan Convent of Calpan was founded in 1548. Calpan is in the state of Puebla . A triple arcade leads to an atrium. The facade of the church is decorated with sculptures; some of them depict agave flowers. The atrium has four chapels that served as small houses of prayer. They have floral and geometric designs on their walls and bas-reliefs reminiscent of the Annunciation , Last Judgment , monograms etc. A fountain in 17th century architecture was later reinstalled in the atrium after its being scattered across the city Had collected items again.
Other church buildings in the region
- In Tepoztlán , a place in the state of Morelos , there is a former Dominican convent. The building, which was built between 1559 and 1588 and is dedicated to the Virgin Mary , resembles a fortress.
- In Tochimilco , a town in the state of Puebla, there is a church that belonged to a Franciscan convent from the sixteenth century. The facade was built in the Renaissance style.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Entry at UNESCO
- ↑ Complete list of places (PDF; 1.5 MB), Hueyapan is missing from the official list for non-inventive reasons.
Web links
- Entry to World Heritage
- Recommendations for evaluation (PDF; 1.5 MB)
- Report of the 18th meeting of the Unesco committee
Heritage: Historic Center of Mexico City and Xochimilco (1987) | Pre-Columbian City and National Park of Palenque (1987) | Pre-Columbian city of Teotihuacán (1987) | Old town of Oaxaca and ruins of Monte Albán (1987) | Historic Center of Puebla (1987) | Guanajuato Historic Center and Mines (1988) | Pre-Columbian city of Chichén Itzá (1988) | Old Town of Morelia (1991) | Pre-Columbian city of El Tajín (1992) | Old town of Zacatecas (1993) | Rock carvings in the Sierra de San Francisco (1993) | Monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl (1994) | Pre-Columbian city of Uxmal (1996) | Querétaro monument ensemble (1996) | Cabañas Hospice in Guadalajara (1997) | Monument area of Tlacotalpan (1998) | Archaeological sites of Paquimé in Casas Grandes (1998) | Xochicalco Archaeological Site (1999) | Historic city and fortress of Campeche (1999) | Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda (2003) | Luís Barragán's house and studio (2004) | Agave landscape and historical tequila production sites (2006) | University campus of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (2007) | Fortified town of San Miguel de Allende and the pilgrimage church of Jesús de Nazareno in Atotonilco (2008) | Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (2010) | Prehistoric caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Oaxaca Valley (2010) | Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque (2015)
Natural heritage: Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve (1987) | El Vizcaíno lagoon - whale shelter (1993) | Islands and Protected Areas in the Gulf of California (2005) | Mariposa Monarca Biosphere Reserve (2008) | El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve (2013) | Revillagigedo Archipelago (2016)
Cultural / natural heritage: Mayan city of Calakmul and tropical rainforests in Campeche (2002)