Royal Monastery of Yuste

Emperor Charles V expressly wished to live out his final days in a monastery, and he chose Yuste. Consequently, the Monastery of Yuste became known all over Spain due to being his place of retirement, and also because of its artistic wealth and its location in a privileged area of the La Vera region. The Monastery stands two kilometres from Cuacos de Yuste, in a peaceful landscape, surrounded by trees and small streams.

This monastery goes back to the fifteenth century, when a group of villagers from La Vera decided to build a monastery to provide shelter for the hermits, and, subsequently, for the monks of the Order of Saint Jerome. This small construction ended up becoming the royal set of buildings which we see today. When the Emperor arrived, his special buildings were built: a simple mansion, without much in the way of decoration. A curious fact: the King's bedroom was next to the church choir, so he could attend ceremonies from his own chambers. This would be a relief for his Majesty, as he suffered from gout.

As you will see, the monastery per se is divided into the church and two cloisters, without including the King's mansion. The church is a late Gothic building, with a single nave terminating a polygonal apse. It leads into the Gothic cloister, with austerity being the dominant note. The new cloister is in a Renaissance style, and is broader than the previous one. It has more in the way of ornamentation, with scrolls and garlands on its columns.

Charles V arrived in Yuste on 3 February, 1557. The Route of the Emperor Charles V, which has been declared a Fiesta of Tourist Interest in Extremadura, commemorates the final journey made by Charles V from the Palace of the Counts of Oropesa, in Jarandilla de la Vera, to the monastery. It takes place each year in February.

The Royal Monastery of Yuste forms part of Spain's National Heritage and is the headquarters of the European Yuste Academic Foundation, which has the mission of fostering the spirit of union in Europe.