Church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano, Castrojeriz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Manzano |
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| District | Castrojeriz |
| Province | Province of Burgos |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Temple |
| Location | |
| Location | Spain |
| Architecture | |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Renaissance, Romanesque |
| Completed | 1214 |
The Church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano ("Our Lady of the Apple Tree") is a Catholic church in the town of Castrojeriz, in the province of Burgos, Spain. Building this church started in 1214. It was Queen Berengaria of Castile who wanted it built. She was the daughter of King Alfonso VIII of Castile and mother of King Ferdinand III of Castile. The church is found at the bottom of the hill where the Castle of Castrojeriz stands. This church used to be a special type of church called a collegiate church.
Contents
History of the Church
We don't know exactly when this church first started. But in the 900s, a leader named Count García Fernández of Castile gave special rights to the canons (priests) of this church. He let them build houses with towers and forts in Castrojeriz. This happened in the year 974.
The Count also said that if anyone harmed these priests, they would have to pay a large fine. If someone killed a priest, their family would get a lot of money. King Fernando IV of Castile confirmed these special rights in 1299.
In 1050, King García Sánchez III of Pamplona of Navarre connected the church to the monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. It was then called the Santa Maria de Castro abbey. Later, under King Alfonso VII, it became linked to the Cathedral of Burgos. The abbot (head priest) of Castrojeriz even got a special seat in the Burgos cathedral. In 1173, during the time of King Alfonso VIII, the church changed again and stopped following the rules of St. Benedict.
The church had some big changes in the late 1400s and early 1500s. Some parts of its ceiling were redone, and the main entrance's round window (rosette) was strengthened. In the 1700s, more parts of the church were rebuilt. This included the main part, the tower, and the roof. They also built the special chapel for the Virgin del Manzano. A famous architect named Juan de Sagarvinaga helped with these works.
In the 1700s, special church services were held here. They remembered important kings and queens like Alfonso VII, Sancho IV, María de Molina, Ferdinand IV, and Constance of Portugal. At that time, the church had many priests and leaders.
What the Church Looks Like
Outside the Church
The main entrance of the church is in the Gothic style. It has a wide arch with many layers and decorations of plants. On each side of the entrance, there are two stone statues from the 1200s. They show the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel. Above them are small roofs (canopies).
The round window (rose window) above the main entrance has been fixed recently. It shows God blessing, surrounded by the apostles. Around the edge of the window are symbols of the four writers of the Gospels and angels' heads.
The entrance on the south side of the church is in the Renaissance style. The bottom part of the church's tower is Romanesque. But in the 1700s, the tower was updated, and a bell tower was added in 1746.
The original back part of the church (apse) was removed during the 1700s changes. It was replaced with the rectangular back part we see today.
Inside the Church
Even though the church was finished in the Gothic style, you can still see some Romanesque parts inside. The church is built completely from cut stone. It has three long sections called naves. The middle nave is about seventeen meters taller than the two side naves. The width of the middle nave is twice as wide as the side naves. The side naves have old Romanesque arches and Gothic stone arches.
The oldest altarpieces (decorated screens behind the altar) inside the church are the Cristo crucificado (Crucified Christ) from the late 1500s and the one of St. James the Apostle from the 1600s. Most of the other altarpieces in the church are from the 1700s.
The main altarpiece was put in place in 1760. It was paid for by the Counts of Ribadavia. It has several paintings showing scenes like the Annunciation and the Birth of Christ. The Annunciation painting was done by Anton Raphael Mengs. Other paintings on the altarpiece are thought to be by his students, like Mariano Salvador Maella and Francisco Bayeu.
Other important items from the 1700s inside the church include the choir stalls, which were finished around 1776. There is also a lectern (a stand for reading) in the choir and a church organ from around 1790.
The choir area is in the main nave and is closed off by a Renaissance-style gate. In the choir, there is a painting called the Virgin de las Cerezas (Virgin of the Cherries). It is believed to be painted by the Flemish artist Pieter Pourbus.
The statue of Nuestra Señora del Manzano is made of colored stone. It is in the chapel named after her, which was built in the 1700s. The Virgin Mary is shown standing, wearing a blue dress with stars. She holds the Christ Child in her left arm and gently touches his foot with her right hand. The Virgin wears a crown and has a special carving on her chest.
Nuestra Señora del Manzano Chapel
This chapel was built in the 1700s by the architect Juan de Sagarvinaga. He was a student of Ventura Rodriguez. The three altars in the chapel were made by Francisco Diez de Mata. The two side altars honor images from the old Monastery of San Anton Castrojeriz.
The main altarpiece in the chapel is in the Baroque style. It holds the statue of Nuestra Señora del Manzano. A painter named Barranco Martinez Burgos, who was a student of Mengs, decorated it with gold.
Several old songs called Canticles are about the image of the Virgin del Manzano. For example, Canticle 242 tells a story about a stone worker who was saved by the Virgin when he almost fell. Other songs tell about a master who worked on the church, people saved from sand, and a wooden beam that fell during mass without hurting anyone.
Queen Eleanor of Castile's Tomb
Inside the church, there is a Gothic-style tomb. Many believe it holds the remains of Queen Eleanor of Castile. She was the daughter of King Ferdinand IV and sister of King Alfonso XI. Queen Eleanor was sadly killed in 1359 in Castrojeriz. Her nephew, Peter I of Castile, ordered her death.
This tomb was found in June 1970. It was hidden behind a wall. Experts believe it belongs to Queen Eleanor because of its style, which matches tombs from the mid-1300s. Also, the tomb has a carving of a woman lying down on its lid. Records also show that the queen was buried in this church. The tomb was moved in the 1700s to make space for another burial area.
Documents found seem to support the idea that Queen Eleanor's remains were buried here after she was killed in 1359. However, two other places also claim to have Queen Eleanor's remains. These are the La Seu Vella Cathedral in Lleida and the Las Huelgas de Burgos monastery.
Church Museum
Today, the church has a museum. It shows many items related to Christianity. You can see many wooden figures, some carved in the 1300s. There are also paintings, old books, special cups (chalices), and other objects. The museum is especially popular with pilgrims who are walking the Camino de Santiago.
A very special item in the museum is a beautiful stained glass rose window from Germany. It is on the north side of the church and is from the late 1400s. Iñigo López de Mendoza donated it. It shows God in the middle, surrounded by the twelve apostles, six angels, and symbols of the four writers of the Gospels.
Besides its regular collection, the old church also hosts many concerts and special art shows for a short time.
See also
In Spanish: Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Manzano (Castrojeriz) para niños
- Castrojeriz
- List of Bien de Interés Cultural in the Province of Burgos
- Romanesque architecture in Spain
