Church of San Lorenzo de Vallejo de Mena, Burgos facts for kids

The church of San Lorenzo

The Church of San Lorenzo is an old and beautiful church. You can find it in Valle de Mena, a small village in the Valley of Mena. This area is part of Las Merindades in the Province of Burgos, Spain.

Historians believe the church was built a long time ago. It was likely started in the late 1100s. The first part built was the apse, which is the rounded end of the church. Then, in the early 1200s, the main part, called the nave, was finished. An old writing inside the church suggests it was given to the Order of Saint John Hospitallers. These were a group of knights who helped people.

Exploring the Church Building

The Church of San Lorenzo was built in the Romanesque style. This style was popular for churches a very long time ago. The church has a main hall (the nave) and a rounded apse at one end.

Church Entrances and Doors

This church has three ways to get inside. The main entrance is at the front, on the western side. There is another door on the south side. A third, smaller door is on the northern side of the church.

Western Entrance Decorations

The main entrance on the western side is very fancy. It has a slightly pointed arch with four layers of decoration. These layers are called archivolts. They are covered with carvings of plants, amazing animals, and even monsters! Each decorated layer rests on a carved stone top, called a capital. These capitals sit on columns that stick out from the wall.

Apse Decorations and Windows

The rounded end of the church, the apse, is also very detailed. It is divided into five sections by columns with carved tops. Each section has a narrow window. Above each window, there is an arcade, which is like a row of three small arches. The carvings here show plants, animals, and people.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church is also full of beautiful art. You can see many sculptures on the tops of the columns and around the windows. These carvings tell stories or show interesting designs.

Church Images

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  Main façade

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  Detail of the main facade

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  The southern facade

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  Apse

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  Decoration of the apse

See also

In Spanish: Iglesia de San Lorenzo (Vallejo de Mena) para niños