42. The kings at St. Benedict’s Chapel

Raise your eyes to the archway leading into the chapel and you will notice a detail rich in history.

Five kings are depicted there, solemn figures watching from above. They represent the Habsburg monarchs: Charles I, Philip II, Philip III, Philip IV and Charles II, who was reigning when construction of the chapel began.

If you look closely at the top of the columns supporting the arch, you will also see the double-headed eagle, the emblematic symbol of the House of Habsburg.

These kings are not shown here simply as decoration. The monarchs were grand masters of several chivalric orders whose statutes were inspired by the Rule of Saint Benedict. In this way, the spiritual bond between the monastic world and the Crown becomes visible. We also know that at least one of them, Philip II, visited our monastery.

But the story takes an important turn. During the chapel’s construction, Charles II died without an heir, triggering the War of the Spanish Succession. This long and complex conflict also caused an interruption in the works of this space.

At the end of the war, the dynasty changed: Philip V of Spain became the first Bourbon king. This change is reflected right here.

Look at the top of the arch and you will see two large lions guarding the monastery’s coat of arms. They symbolise the new Bourbon dynasty, under whose protection the monastic community also sought support and understanding.

So, in this apparently discreet corner, what you see is much more than just decoration: it is the reflection of political changes, spiritual links and key moments in history that have left their mark on the monastery.