Church of Saint Mary of Eunate facts for kids

The Church of Saint Mary of Eunate is a very old Catholic church in Navarre, Spain. It was built in the 1100s, which is the 12th century. This church is special because it has a unique eight-sided shape, like an octagon. It stands alone in the countryside, not in a town, which makes it a bit mysterious. The church is also found along the famous Way of Saint James, a historic path for pilgrims.

What Makes Eunate Special?

The Church of Eunate is built from carefully shaped stones. Its main part is an eight-sided shape, with a small three-sided area at the back called an apse. It shows many features of Romanesque architecture, a style popular in Europe long ago. These features include strong stone walls, rounded arches, and small windows often made of alabaster. You can also see special chessboard-like patterns, which are common in Romanesque buildings in Navarre and Aragon.

The Roof and Arches

The church's eight walls hold up a special roof called a rib vault, which also has eight sections. This type of roof was inspired by amazing buildings from the Moorish period in Córdoba. A similar church, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Torres del Río, also in Navarre, has a very similar design. It is about 55 kilometers away and also on the Way of Saint James.

Around the Church of Eunate, there are many arches. It looks like some of these arches were rebuilt later, perhaps using parts from an old cloister (a covered walkway) that might have been there a long time ago.

What Was Eunate Used For?

The Church of Eunate is a hermitage, which is a quiet place for prayer. It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary. People from the nearby Valdizarbe valley still come here for a traditional romería, which is a religious pilgrimage or celebration. This is the only use of the church that has been clearly recorded in old documents. The earliest mention of Eunate is from 1487, talking about a group devoted to the Virgin of Eunate.

However, because of its unique shape and location on the Way of Saint James, people have wondered if it had other purposes when it was first built.

Theories About Its Origin

Since the late 1800s, many ideas have been suggested about who built Eunate and why. Because of its eight-sided shape, some early theories suggested it was built by the Knights Templar. This military order built other churches with central, round, or octagonal plans, like the Templar convent of Tomar in Portugal or the Temple Church of London. These churches were often inspired by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.

While there is no clear proof that the Knights Templar were in this exact area of Navarre, another important military order, the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem (also known as the Knights Hospitaller), was active here. They were known for running "hospitals" or hostels for pilgrims traveling to Santiago. Archaeological digs around Eunate have found many old burials and St. James' shells, which are symbols of the pilgrims. This suggests the church was an important stop for travelers on the Way of Saint James.

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de Santa María de Eunate para niños

• History of medieval Arabic and Western European domes