The Batalha Monastery (Mosteiro de Batalha) in central Portugal is a magnificent Dominican monastery and one of the finest examples of Late Gothic architecture in the country. The intricate stone carvings, soaring naves, and exquisite chapels showcase the pinnacle of Gothic style. It symbolizes this critical point in Portuguese history as it was built to commemorate the Portuguese victory over the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota in 1385, which secured Portugal’s independence.
Batalha was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983 due to its status as an architectural and historical masterpiece. The sheer size, haunting unfinished spaces, and Gothic grandeur create an awe-inspiring, almost ethereal atmosphere for visitors. We have visited several monasteries in Portugal and this one is extraordinary.
Getting to the Monastery of Batalha
The easiest option of course is to drive. We were able to park very close to the monastery and walk to the courtyard area for lunch and shopping. There is a bus from Lisbon to Batalha that takes about 2 hours and costs about €15. You can also opt for a private tour day trip from Lisbon but most of those will take you to Batalha, Óbidos, Nazaré, and Fátima. We recommend Targarela Tours to give you a private tour and your own itinerary. If you are interested in our list of private tour guides, click here!
Admission is €10 to see the Founders Chapel, Royal Cloister and Unfinished chapels. You can visit the Main church and nave for free. There is also a ticket you can purchase to visit all the monasteries if you are interested.
History of the Batalha Monastery
In August of 1385, King João I made a vow to God that if they won the battle of Aljubarrota against the Castilian Army, he would build a monastery on the spot. Thus, the construction of the Mosteiro de Santa Maria da Vitória (Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory) began in 1388. D. João hired the first architect Afonso Domingues who created the main design of the monastery.
When Domingues died in 1402, Catalan architect Huguet took over and designed and built most of the rest of it until he died in 1437. He began work on the Mausoleum for King Duarte which was never finished thus called the capelas imperfeitas. It was King Manuel I, son of King Duarte that called in Mateus Fernandes to construct the portal and much of the Manueline art that makes the monastery a work of art.
João I also gave the monastery to the Dominican Order who founded a school for theological studies. They left in the 19th century when all religious orders were eradicated. Today, the monastery is a grand symbol of Portuguese cultural heritage and is a National Monument has been gradually restored since 1840.
The Tour
You can, of course get a private tour of the monastery but we opted to buy the pamphlet for €1 and walk through ourselves. The ticket office is just to the left of the main entrance of the church by the courtyard. This is the order in which you travel through the monastery.
Main Church and Nave
The church of the monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory was the first to be built. Construction started in 1388 and was finished by 1434. It is one of the largest churches in Portugal and was designed by Huguet. When you enter from the main portal of the church, you can see just how vast it is. The ceiling is 106.6 feet tall (32.5m)and the aisles of pews seem to go on for days. At the front of the nave sits the alter and a large statue of Jesus on the cross. You can spend a great deal of time admiring the stained-glass windows and the sheer vastness of the nave.
Founder’s Chapel
Just to the right side of the nave when you enter through the front door is the Founders chapel built for King João I by the famous architect Huguet. It was constructed between 1426-1434 and was to be the first royal pantheon, a resting place for him and his children, including the famous Largo Infante Dom Henrique (Prince Henry the Navigator). It is the first joint tomb in Portugal with King João I and wife Queen Philippa of Lancaster buried in an enormous tomb underneath the eight pointed star of the ceiling.
When you enter the room, you can see the large tombs in the middle but you don’t quite see how grand they are until you stand with them under the octagon. We walked around the edge of the tomb where João’s descendants are also laid to rest and marvelled over the work it took to construct these tombs.
Royal Cloister of João I
As you exit off the side of the nave you enter the Royal Cloister (claustro real) of D. João I. There is a beautiful walkway and garden area, but what makes this cloister special is the Manueline carvings and arches that complete the “windows” and walkways that lead out into the garden area. The amount of time and craftsmanship that was put into this is extraordinary.
The Chapter House
Off to the side of the Royal Cloister is a large vault known as the Chapter House. Master Huguet built this huge room with no center support which was an incredible feat during his day. Today, it is known to house the grave of the unknown soldiers, who fought in World War I.
Royal Cloister of Afonso V
After you walk through the Royal Cloister of João I, you exit to the left and come to the old refectory and Unknown Soldier Offerings Museum. You can see many of the artefacts that people have dedicated over the years. Walk through the corridor and then enter the Royal Cloister of Alfonso V. This part of the monastery was built during his reign of Portugal (1438-1477) and is the first cloister to feature a two story walkway. It is simpler than the cloister for João I, but it was for the day to day use of the monks.
Imperfect Chapels
Once you exit through the gift shop and walk around the outside of the monastery, you enter the Unfinished Chapels.
The Unfinished Chapels or Capelas Imperfeitas are the most intricately decorated marvel of the monastery. The Portal was designed by Mateus Fernandes and demonstrates his expertise in Manueline art. The chapels were initiated by Huguet but his death as well as the death of King Duarte put a hold on the construction of the chapels. King Manuel I stepped in and tried to have them finished but was not able to as well. The balcony was finished in 1533 but it was the last attempt to finish the chapels by King João III.
Today, one of the 7 chapels houses King Duarte and his wife Eleanor of Aragon.
Other Monasteries we have visited
Portugal is full of beautiful monasteries and I think we may be determined to visit them all! So far I will say that Batalha is possibly the most beautiful while Convent of Christ (convent do Cristo) is the most extensive and has amazing attributes as well such as the charola church and the Manueline window in the church. The town of Tomar is just charming and the Castle of the Knights Templar is located right next to the Convent.
The Monastery of Alcobaça located in the town of Alcobaça is also incredible and houses the graves of Inês de Castro and Pedro I. In Lisbon, you can visit the famous Jerónimos monastery. You can visit the church for free but must pay to see the cloister. We did not see as much as that monastery as we would have liked because it only allowed us to see the cloister.
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Shelley is a full time traveler, blogger and podcaster currently living in Portugal with her wife, 2 dogs and a cat. She is a former history teacher originally from Winston-Salem, NC but wanted to see what life was like abroad. Now she travels all over Portugal and Europe writing about what she sees and does and tells you all kinds of fun stories on the podcast at Wandering Works for Us.