Historical Outline of the Chapter House: 12th Century to 1931
1167: Abbey was founded by Alfonso VIII, King of Castile (14 yrs after death of St. Bernard and 35 yrs after Cistercians first came to Spain). This Abbey was one of the establishments the King used to safeguard the country recently conquered from the Moors.
1190: Construction begins on the Chapter House - an early example of Cistercian French Gothic brought to Spain. Martin of Finojoso was instrumental in this construction. He was Abbot of Huerta, Bishop of Siguenza, and a saint of the Cistercian Order. Chapter House was completed in 1220.
1835: Abbey was secularized by the Spanish Government - only 4 monks and 1 lay brother were left after monks had lived there for 700 yrs. Property went into private owners.
1931: Purchased by William Randolph Hearst for his estate at Wyntoon. He did not bring back the entire monastery, only sections of it. Arthur Byne was the art dealer whose advice Hearst followed to purchase it. Julia Morgan was an architect for Hearst, Walter Steilberg her assistant. Plans were drawn to restore it at Wyntoon.
1190: Construction begins on the Chapter House - an early example of Cistercian French Gothic brought to Spain. Martin of Finojoso was instrumental in this construction. He was Abbot of Huerta, Bishop of Siguenza, and a saint of the Cistercian Order. Chapter House was completed in 1220.
1835: Abbey was secularized by the Spanish Government - only 4 monks and 1 lay brother were left after monks had lived there for 700 yrs. Property went into private owners.
1931: Purchased by William Randolph Hearst for his estate at Wyntoon. He did not bring back the entire monastery, only sections of it. Arthur Byne was the art dealer whose advice Hearst followed to purchase it. Julia Morgan was an architect for Hearst, Walter Steilberg her assistant. Plans were drawn to restore it at Wyntoon.
