Hotel Europa

The Orchard of the Nuns

By | 4 September, 2019 | 0 comments

Huerto de las Monjas

In the 17th century, Cistercian nuns began to cultivate a garden of carrots, lettuces, spring onions and cabbages in the Convent of the Sacrament. Today it is known as the Orchard of the Nuns or Garden of the O’Reilly Palace and it is one of the best kept secrets of this city.

Hidden under stairs and surrounded by blocks of buildings, there is a green space full of charm. The Convent of Sacramento was founded by Cristóbal Gómez de Sandoval in 1615 and was destroyed during the civil war until the 1940s, when it was rebuilt. It was inhabited by the Barefoot Cistercian nuns of San Bernardo, known as the Bernardas, who cultivated for their own needs. Although the convent was demolished in 1972, the original garden remained divided into streets with landscaped plots delimited by hedges and trees. It currently has a fountain with three bronze cherubs imported from Paris in the eighteenth century, better known as Fuente de la Priora. Apparently, the fountain came from the estate El Castañar owned by the Dukes of Montellano in Toledo, which they took with them when they moved to their Palace in Madrid. In the garden you can also see an old street lamp like the ones found in the Puerta del Sol.

The Orchard of the Nuns is a perfect place to escape from the city while still being inside it. It is very close to our hotel and can be accessed from Calle del Sacramento, 7 or Calle Rollo. Access is free and visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 06:00 to 23:00 hours and it is closed on weekends. A real green oasis surrounded by modern buildings, which we recommend you visit on your next trip to Madrid.

Categories: Actividades

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