Monastery of La Cartuja, Granada
The Monastery of La Cartuja is a Carthusian monastery on the northern edge of Granada, begun in 1516 and famed for its Baroque sacristy and its Sancta Sanctorum of marble and gilding.
About Monastery of La Cartuja, Granada
La Cartuja, the Royal Monastery of Our Lady of the Assumption, stands about 2 km north of the cathedral beside the university campus. Carthusian monks arrived in 1514 and building began in 1516; it went on for three centuries, mixing Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque. The monks left in 1835 and the great cloister was pulled down in 1842. It was declared a national monument in 1931.
A Plateresque gateway opens onto a courtyard and the church, a single nave hung with paintings by Juan Sánchez Cotán, who lived here as a lay brother. Behind the altar, Francisco Hurtado Izquierdo's Sancta Sanctorum glows with coloured marble and gilding. The highlight is the 18th-century sacristy, its white stucco covering every surface.
Entry is €7, €5 for students aged 13 to 25 and visitors with disabilities and free for under-12s, with a free app audio guide; buy online or at the door, with no timed slot. It opens Sunday to Friday 10:00–19:00 and Saturday 10:00–12:45 and 15:00–18:00, last entry 30 minutes before closing. It is a 25-minute walk or short taxi ride from the centre. Allow an hour. Steps lead up to the church, so wheelchair users should ask staff.
Bright mornings show the sacristy at its best, and it is rarely crowded. Flash, tripods and selfie sticks are not allowed; note the short Saturday hours.
Monastery of La Cartuja, Granada in pictures
What you’ll find
- Audio guideAudio guideBuy
- Monument visitSelf-guided visit (€5–€7, 10:00–19:00)Ticket
- Religious servicesMassFree
Nearby places to visit
La Cartuja stands on the northern edge of Granada, so pair it with the sights of the centre to the south. Dar al-Horra Palace (1 km) is a late Nasrid palace in the upper Albaicín, linked to Aixa, mother of Boabdil, and the Monastery of San Jerónimo (1 km) is another great monastic church, begun in 1504 under the Catholic Monarchs. Down on the Carrera del Darro, El Bañuelo (2 km) is an 11th-century Moorish bathhouse. In the centre, Granada Cathedral (2 km) and the Royal Chapel of Granada (2 km) stand side by side, the chapel holding the tombs of Isabel and Ferdinand.
Monastery of La Cartuja, Granada at a glance
Location
Vega de Granada, Granada
Town
Granada
Address
Paseo de Cartuja s/n, 18011 Granada, Granada, Spain
Opening hours
Sun–Fri 10:00–19:00; Sat 10:00–12:45 and 15:00–18:00; last entry 30 minutes before closing; closed 25 Dec and 1 Jan, and from 14:00 on 24 and 31 Dec
Prices
Adults €7; students 13–25 and visitors with disabilities €5; under-12s free; free app audio guide
Checked 1 Nov 2026 on the official website. Times and prices can change, so confirm before you go.
Website
cartujadegranada.com
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