Walk through the grounds of many medieval cathedrals and monasteries, and you may encounter a peaceful open courtyard surrounded by covered walkways.
These elegant spaces are known as cloisters.
To modern visitors, cloisters often feel calm and contemplative, offering a welcome escape from the crowds and activity of the outside world. Yet during the Middle Ages, these corridors formed the heart of daily life for monks, canons and religious communities.
Far more than simple passageways, cloisters connected the most important parts of a monastery or cathedral complex while providing spaces for prayer, study, work and reflection.
They were among the most important architectural features of medieval religious life.
What Is a Cloister?
A cloister is a covered walkway that surrounds an open courtyard, usually arranged in a square or rectangular shape.
The word derives from the Latin claustrum, meaning "enclosed place."
Cloisters are typically attached to monasteries, abbeys and cathedral precincts, providing sheltered access between important buildings.
The central courtyard often contained gardens, wells or symbolic plantings, while arcades lined with columns created covered walkways around the perimeter.
Together, these elements formed one of the most recognisable spaces in medieval architecture.
The Heart of Monastic Life
For many religious communities, the cloister served as the centre of everyday life.
From the cloister, monks could access the church, dormitory, refectory, chapter house and other essential buildings.
Because these spaces were interconnected, daily routines naturally revolved around the cloister.
Religious processions often passed through its walkways, while individuals moved between prayer, study, meals and work throughout the day.
The cloister was not separate from medieval life.
It was where much of that life unfolded.
A Place for Reflection
Although cloisters were practical spaces, they were also designed to encourage contemplation.
The enclosed courtyard created a sense of separation from the outside world.
Gardens, fountains and carefully arranged architecture fostered an atmosphere of peace and order.
For medieval religious communities, the cloister symbolised spiritual withdrawal from worldly distractions and a focus on prayer and devotion.
Its quiet character continues to attract visitors today.
Learning and Scholarship
Many cloisters were closely associated with education.
Monasteries played important roles in preserving and copying manuscripts throughout the Middle Ages, and cloister walkways often provided spaces for reading, discussion and study.
The sheltered arcades protected individuals from the weather while allowing natural light to illuminate the surrounding corridors.
In some communities, teaching and learning became important aspects of cloister life.
As a result, cloisters contributed not only to religious practice but also to the preservation of knowledge.
Architecture in Stone
Cloisters are often celebrated for their architectural beauty.
Columns, arches and tracery vary considerably depending on the period and region in which they were built.
Romanesque cloisters frequently feature rounded arches and robust columns, while Gothic examples introduce pointed arches, more delicate tracery and increased verticality.
Many cloisters are richly decorated with carved capitals, foliage, biblical scenes and symbolic motifs.
These details transformed everyday spaces into works of art.
The Cloister Garden
At the centre of many cloisters lies a garden.
These enclosed green spaces provided practical and symbolic benefits.
Medicinal herbs, flowers and useful plants were sometimes cultivated within the cloister garth, while the garden itself could represent paradise, creation or spiritual renewal.
The contrast between stone architecture and living greenery reinforced themes that were important to medieval religious life.
Even today, the garden remains one of the most memorable features of many cloisters.
Famous Medieval Cloisters
Several cathedral and monastic cloisters are renowned for their architecture and preservation.
Gloucester Cathedral (England)
Gloucester's magnificent Gothic cloisters are among the most celebrated in Britain and feature some of the earliest examples of fan vaulting.
Salisbury Cathedral (England)
The cloisters of Salisbury Cathedral form the largest cathedral cloister in Britain and remain remarkably well preserved.
Monreale Cathedral (Italy)
Monreale's cloister is famous for its richly decorated columns and extraordinary blend of Norman, Byzantine and Islamic artistic influences.
Canterbury Cathedral (England)
The cathedral's cloister connects important parts of the monastic complex and reflects centuries of architectural development.
More Than a Corridor
It is easy to think of cloisters simply as passageways.
In reality, they were spaces where architecture, community and spirituality intersected.
People walked, prayed, studied, taught and reflected within these corridors every day.
The cloister provided structure to medieval life while creating an environment designed to support both practical needs and spiritual aspirations.
Look Around the Courtyard
The next time you visit a cloister, pause for a moment before continuing on your way.
Notice the rhythm of the arches, the patterns of light and shadow, and the relationship between the surrounding architecture and the open space at its centre.
What appears at first to be a simple corridor often reveals itself to be one of the most thoughtfully designed spaces in the entire complex.
Why Cloisters Still Matter
Cloisters remind us that medieval architecture was not only about grand façades, soaring vaults and monumental towers.
It was also about creating spaces for everyday life.
These corridors connected people, buildings and routines while providing environments that encouraged reflection and learning.
Centuries later, cloisters continue to offer visitors the same qualities they offered medieval communities: shelter, beauty and a sense of quiet order amid a busy world.
Further Reading and Research
Canterbury Cathedral – Official Site
Salisbury Cathedral – Official Site
Gloucester Cathedral – Official Site
Monreale Cathedral – Official Site
Nicola Coldstream, Medieval Architecture
Robert A. Scott, The Gothic Enterprise: A Guide to Understanding the Medieval Cathedral
Paul Frankl, Gothic Architecture
Christopher Norton, Medieval Cloisters
Smarthistory – Gothic Architecture: An Introduction
The Metropolitan Museum of Art – Gothic Art Collection
Wikimedia Commons – Cloisters Collection