August 27th

Villamayor de Monjardín: Church, Castle, and Urban Planning

Carmelo San Martín Gil
Estella St. James Pilgrimage Center ( programs of study )

On Thursday, August 27, the third lecture in the series took place at the parish church of Villamayor de Monjardín. It was presented by Carmelo San Martín Gil, a member of the board executive board of the association Friends of the Camino de Santiago in Estella / Jacobean programs of study Center.

 
Assistants

The Association of Friends of the Way of St. James in Estella ( presentation ) invited Salvador Garín, secretary of the same association—the Friends of the Way of St. James in Estella ( association )—to a “ position .”

The talk began at 7:30 p.m. and lasted 60 minutes, including questions. Seventy people attended the “ lecture ,” including residents of Villamayor de Monjardín and other visitors who came from outside the town. Earlier, the parish priest, Father Germán Martínez—who was unable to attend because he was in Arróniz with the Archbishop for the start of the novena to Our Lady of Mendía—had removed the Blessed Sacrament from the church. Local officials , led by the mayor, Mr. Jaime Del Villar, were in attendance.

The " lecture " featured high-quality artwork created specifically for the event by Pamplona-based artist Jorge Martínez Huarte. 

 
Romanesque Church of St. Andrew the Apostle, 12th century

The “ lecture ” featured an overview of the ecclesiastical and civil heritage of Villamayor de Monjardín. Following an introduction that provided historical context for Villamayor de Monjardín within the Santesteban de Deyo or La Solana Valley, the heritage tour began with the Romanesque church of San Andrés. The speaker explained the style and construction period of the church, which dates from the 12th to the 13th centuries; compared it with other Romanesque churches in Navarre; and outlined the differences and similarities between them, as well as some of the church’s most notable features: the portal, the capital depicting the battle between Roldán and Ferragut, the architectural evolution toward the Gothic style, and the church’s transformation in the 16th century. He discussed the fine Romanist altarpiece that once adorned this church (now in the Church of El Salvador in Pamplona) and the vicissitudes it endured during the church’s restoration, which ultimately led to the altarpiece ending up in Pamplona. Next, other elements of the church were reviewed, such as the sacristy, the Baroque tower, the reliquary of Saint Andrew and Saint Veremund, the Romanesque Virgin from Lecáun, and, above all, the Cross of Monjardín. Regarding the Cross of Monjardín, a review was given of its history, its artistry, its possible authorship, and the legends surrounding its discovery.

In connection with the Cross of Monjardín and its link to Sancho Garcés I, King of Navarre, the presentation covered the rich heritage of Monjardín Castle and its various features: the defensive tower, the cistern, the staircase, the “ Shrine of Our Lady of Fair Love,” alterations made during the Carlist era, the archaeological excavations conducted in 2004, and more.

source medieval, 12th century

After visiting the castle, the discussion turned to the town's urban layout and some features affected by the Carlist Wars, such as the small CalvaryShrine of Our Lady of Fair Love .

In connection with the Camino de Santiago, the exhibition featured everything related to the Medieval “source ” or “ source de los Moros,” also dating from the 12th and 13th centuries and the most notable example of civil architecture in Villamayor de Monjardín, along with the castle.

As for the rest of the secular architecture in Villamayor de Monjardín—and in keeping with an old local saying: “In Villamayor de Monjardín, there are three gods: Don Sixto Segura, Mainate, and the priest”—we took a look at the three most notable buildings in Villamayor. 

Monjardín Castle, view of the keep, c. X

Casa de los Segura: an 18th-century Baroque building featuring notable elements such as its coat of arms, a large wine cellar, and an olive oil press. The “ lecture ” was brought to life through an explanation of who Don Sixto Segura was and his importance in 18th-century Villamayor, accompanied by an anecdote about how he fell in love with and later married a woman from Labeaga.

Casa Mainate: an 18th-century Baroque building featuring notable elements such as its coat of arms. The “ lecture ” was “humanized” by recounting the various twists and turns in the lives of the house’s inhabitants—from the installation of the coat of arms to the different generations and family names of its owners.

Casa del Diezmo: an old building, very B, originally belonging to the church of Villamayor, where tithes and firstfruits were collected. A review was given of the history of some of the building’s former landlords. In addition, the discussion covered the transcript confiscation of this building, its public auction in the 19th century, and its conversion into a boutique hotel. The restoration of the Villamayor coat of arms on the building’s facade was also discussed.

Processional Cross of Monjardín, 12th century

At the “ lecture ” event, other cultural heritage sites in Villamayor de Monjardín were discussed, such as the neoclassical “source ” and the modern sculpture or bust of Sancho Garcés I located in the town’s “ place .” Additionally, as part of the overarching theme of the “ lecture ” event—which was the Camino de Santiago—a brief story was read about pilgrims in the 1920s and 1930s. This account was taken from the book *Relatos y música en el Camino de Santiago* (Stories and Music on the Camino de Santiago ), published in 2015 by the local writer Blanca Urabayen, who has since passed away. It is also part of the cultural heritage of such a small town to have writers and poets like Blanca Urabayen.

Based on the feedback received after the lecture, attendees enjoyed the presentation and the topics discussed.

The Segura Family House and Coat of Arms in Villamayor de Monjardín, 18th century