The construction of the Church of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary dates back to the beginning of the city, to the beginning of the 13th century. The Poor Clares as a female branch of the Franciscans are first mentioned in Trnava in 1239, ie during the life of St. Klára, the founder of the order. They are referred to as nuns of the Order of St. Damian, according to their first monastery dedicated to this saint. The sisters, later called the Poor Clares, settled where the Franciscan brothers were already active. They helped them to establish monasteries and, if necessary, represented them in public. The Poor Clares belonged to the orders with a very strict clause. Behind the walls of the monastery, in complete isolation from their surroundings, they spent the rest of their lives meditating, praying or doing small handicrafts. The idea of strict religious rules is provided by the adjustment of the rules by Pope Innocent IV, who allowed the nuns to wear fur clothing in the winter. They started building the monastery with the church shortly after arriving in the city. The original single-nave church with a square sanctuary was partially renovated in the 14th century, later, in the 17th century, it was enlarged by a part with a refectory on the ground floor and an oratory on the first floor, ie a tribune . The vault of the nave of the church, the sacristy and the tower also date from this period. As with other church buildings in the city, the construction activities of the Poor Clares were financially supported by Cardinal Peter Pázmaň. Finally, in the 18th century, the interior was complemented by Baroque altars. The first monastery was a simple building adjoining the church from the south. Gradually, the original building from the 13th century was incorporated into the transverse courtyard wing, which separates two separate monastic courtyards. Abolition of the Order by Joseph II. brought new uses to buildings. As in many other buildings, a dormitory for sick military retirees was established here. Later, when a part of the walls on the south side of the former monastery was demolished and a moat was filled in, a large newly created ornamental garden was added to the area, adapted in the middle of the 20th century to the town amphitheater. At that time, the former convent of the Poor Clares became the seat of the West Slovak Museum.
Altitude: 147 m
Muzejné nám. 3
917 01 Trnava
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