Sahagún Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Sahagún (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids

Sahagún

Flag	Coat of arms

Sahagún

Location in Spain

Country

Area

• Total

123.64 km² (47.74 sq mi)

Elevation

822 m (2,697 ft)

Population

• Total

2,517

• Density

20.357/km² (52.726/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

facundino/na, sahagunense

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postal code

24320

Dialing code

987

Official language(s)

Spanish

Sahagún is a town and municipality in Spain. It is part of the Castile and León region. The town is located in the province of León. It is the main town in the Leonese part of the Tierra de Campos area.

Sahagún is famous for its special buildings. These buildings show some of the earliest examples of Mudéjar architecture. This style mixes Christian and Islamic art. The town is also on the Way of St. James. This is a famous pilgrimage route. Many people think Sahagún is the halfway point for pilgrims. It is between St. Jean Pied de Port and Santiago de Compostela.

A battle happened here in 1808. It was called the Battle of Sahagún. British light cavalry won a big victory. They defeated more French soldiers. The first settlement in Sahagún grew around a monastery. This monastery was dedicated to saints Facundus and Primitivus. The name Sahagún likely comes from "San Fagun." This means "Saint Facundus."

Villages in Sahagún
The Monastery of Sahagún
Famous People from Sahagún
Gallery
See also

Villages in Sahagún

The municipality of Sahagún includes several small villages. These villages are:

The Monastery of Sahagún

The monastery in Sahagún became very important. This happened during the rule of King Alfonso III. It reached its greatest fame under Alfonso VI of Castile. On November 25, 1085, King Alfonso VI made special rules. These rules were called the Fuero de Sahagún. They gave many benefits to the monastery and the town. This helped Sahagún grow a lot.

The king really liked the Cluniac religious order. Because of this, the monastery was known as the "Spanish Cluny." Sometimes, there were fights between the townspeople and the monastery. These fights happened in the mid-12th century. They are written about in the Crónicas anónimas de Sahagún.

The monastery was a key stop on the pilgrimage route. This route leads to Santiago de Compostela. In the 14th century, the monastery even had a university. This was one of the early universities in Europe. In the 1800s, the monastery was closed down. Most of its buildings were destroyed.