Living in Portugal Learn about Portuguese historical architecture: The Monastery of Batalha is located in the city of Batalha, in the coastal Beira province of Portugal, and was built to commemorate the victory over the Castilians in 1385. The Monastery of Batalha is a symbol of the further consolidation of Portuguese national independence. After the heroic Portuguese people defeated the Castilians at the Battle of Aljubarrota on August 15, 1385, King John I promised to build this monastery, and thus this solemn Gothic structure was born. The Monastery of Batalha is also known as the "Monastery of Saint Mary of the Victory."
Over more than two centuries of history, the Monastery of Batalha maintained a dominant position in architectural art within the Portuguese Empire. Its entire structure is clearly influenced by Manueline art, combining primitive and national Gothic styles to form a unique example of a royal monastery.
The Monastery of Batalha houses the tombs of Prince Henry the Navigator, the founder of Portugal's maritime endeavors, as well as his parents.
The church was expanded several times by successive generations and consists of a main hall, chapels, a bell tower, and a cemetery. The main building is a three-story structure; the ground floor features an arched gate without windows, adjacent to a bungalow with a balcony roof. The second floor consists of arched windows, and the top floor features a central arched floor-to-ceiling flamboyant window with a balcony, surrounded by towering spires. The porch is engraved with complex and vigorous wooden relief sculptures and geometric patterns, with a style similar to the Gothic carvings of the Burgundy region in France. The main hall of the monastery church is 80.27 meters long, 22 meters wide, and 32.46 meters high, featuring ribbed cross-vaulted ceilings.
Since its establishment, the Monastery of Batalha has been favored by successive kings, with numerous architects and artists contributing their wisdom and talent. It ultimately formed the Portuguese Gothic architectural style and serves as a symbol of the Portuguese nation and a mark of its independence, respected and protected by the Portuguese people. It was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1983.