The Tapestry Museum of Pastrana
Treasures of the art of Flemish-Gothic, medieval tapestry of the 15th century
By Tapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
Museo Parroquial de Tapices de Pastrana
Entrance to the parish Museum of Pastrana (1569) by Fostered by the Archbishop Fray Pedro Gonzalez de Mendoza. 17th centuryTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
To the right of the main altarpiece, one finds the entrance to the parish museum of Pastrana which consists of the tapestry room, room 2 and the chapter house. The strong influence of some of the people who lived in Pastrana during the Renaissance and the Baroque made it possible, through donations and sponsorship, that the collegiate church treasures an endless number of liturgical utensils, paintings, and sculptures that are true gems.
Of all of the above, it is the tapestries from the Alfonso V of Portugal collection that justly enjoy international fame. The tapestries of Pastrana count as one of the most representative treasures of the art of Flemish-Gothic, medieval tapestry of the 15th century.
The tapestry Museum of Pastrana (1471-1475) by Tournai Passchier GrenierTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
The tapestry collection consists of four cloths embroidered in silk and wool. 11 metres long and 4 metres tall, they have great artistic, documentary, heritage, and cultural value. After the conquests of Asilah and Tangier in 1471, the very king Alfonso V of Portugal commissioned the tapestries to commemorate these military victories to the Passchier Grenier workshop in the Belgian city of Tournai.
Detail of the tapestry “Landing in Asilah” (1471-1475) by Tournai Passchier GrenierTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
The tapestries are woven in silk and wool of average dimensions of 11 m. x 4 m. and have an exceptional artistic, documentary, heritage, and cultural value.
Detail of the tapestry “The siege of Asilah” (1471-1475) by Tournai Passchier GrenierTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
After the conquests of Asilah and Tangier back in 1471, King Alfonso V of Portugal himself commissioned weaving the tapestries.
Detail of the tapestry “The attack of Asilah” (1471-1475) by Tournai Passchier GrenierTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
These tapestries commemorate military victories in Asilah and Tangier.
Detail of the tapestry “the conquest of Tangier” (1471-1475) by Tournai Passchier GrenierTapestry Parish Museum of Pastrana
The tapestries were woven in the Passchier Grenier workshop in the Belgian city of Tournai.
Tap to explore
It was on May 18, 1667 that the council of canons of the collegiate church of Pastrana accepted the tapestries donated by Doña Catalina Gomez de Sandoval y Mendoza, eighth duchess of the Infantado, wife to the fourth duke of Pastrana. The church has since treasured these works of art. After numerous vicissitudes throughout time and after travelling around the whole world, the tapestries came back to Pastrana in 2014. They were restored in 2008 thanks to the sponsorship of the Carlos de Amberes foundation and today are displayed in an adapted and specially equipped museum.
A project promoted by the Provincial Council of Guadalajara, Spain.
Coordination: Aurora Batanero and Mario González Somoano.
Production and realization: Laura Domínguez and Fernando Toquero.
Photographs: Alfonso Romo, Enrique Delgado, Nacho Abascal, Laura Domínguez and Fernando Toquero.
Translation: Miguel Ángel Muñoz Lobo.
