Ucles Monastery

Ucles was the headquarters of the Order of Santiago, the military order founded in the twelfth century, from 1174, and its monastery-fortress was rebuilt between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries into the great square block that stands today: a cloister of two storeys with a plateresque and Herreran character, a refectory with a carved coffered ceiling, a church with the tombs of order masters, and a monumental baroque south facade added in 1735. The comparison with El Escorial is standard locally, though it is smaller and less severe. A castle of Muslim origin stands on the hill above with three towers. The battle of Ucles in 1108, in which Alfonso VI's son was killed, took place nearby.

Highlights

• The two-storey cloister - a large court in plateresque and Herreran styles.
• The carved refectory ceiling - coffered woodwork in the dining hall.
• The baroque south front - a monumental 1735 facade on the hillside.
• The castle above - Muslim-origin towers on the summit.

When to go

April to June and September to November; the Mancha plain is very hot in summer. The monastery keeps limited hours with a midday break and closes on some weekdays, so checking before travelling matters.

Things to know

Parts of the building are used by a seminary and are closed to visitors. Hours are short and irregular. Ucles is a small village with minimal facilities and no practical public transport.

Nearby

Segobriga's Roman ruins are close; Cuenca and Belmonte lie east and south.

Key facts