Church of San Pedro de Tejada, Burgos Facts for Kids

The Church of San Pedro de Tejada

The Church of San Pedro de Tejada is a really old and important church in Spain. It's a great example of Romanesque style, which was popular a long, long time ago. You can find this church in a beautiful area called the Valley of Valdivieso, in the Province of Burgos. It used to be part of a monastery that might have been there as early as the 800s! The church you see today was built in the 1100s. It's the only part of the old monastery that's still standing, and sometimes people call it an eremita, which means a hermitage.

What Does the Church Look Like?
- Outside the Church
Inside the Church
Gallery
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What Does the Church Look Like?

This church was built in the typical Romanesque style. It has a rounded back part called an apse on its eastern side. The main part of the church is shaped like a basilica, which is a long hall. A big square tower stands over the middle section where the church's arms would meet. You can get to the top of this tower by climbing a spiral staircase built into the southern wall.

Outside the Church

The outside of the apse is divided into three sections. Each section has a window decorated with cool Romanesque designs. These windows are framed by columns with carved tops, called capitals.

Look up at the roofline! You'll see a row of 86 stone carvings called corbels. These carvings show all sorts of characters, like monks, bishops, acrobats, and musicians. There are also animals and even scenes that show punishments for bad behavior.

The main door of the church is on the west side. It's covered in amazing stone carvings! You can see scenes from the New Testament, like the Last Supper and figures of the Apostles. There's another door on the north side. This one might have been used to connect the church to the old monastery buildings.

The tall tower has two levels. The bottom level has decorative arches, and the top level has open arches that let light in.

Inside the Church

The inside of the church is also full of beautiful sculptures. You'll see designs of plants mixed with stories from the Old and New Testaments. The apse, at the back of the church, has a row of arches decorating its walls.

The columns in the middle of the church, where the main parts cross, have special carved tops. These carvings show the Last Supper, the story of Saint Peter being freed, and a powerful image of Jesus Christ surrounded by four symbols representing the Gospels.

There used to be a large painted altarpiece in this church. But now, it's been moved to the Museo de Burgos, a museum in the city of Burgos. A monk from the Monastery of San Salvador de Oña painted it.