Panteón Real de Nájera

Panteón Real | Wikicommons. Autor: Zarateman

A pantheon in a place of legend

The Monastery of Santa María la Real is one of the most important vestiges of the history of Spain. Located in Nájera-Pamplona, which would later become the kingdom of Navarra, we are talking about one of the towns most historically linked to the Camino de Santiago, but also standing out on a monumental level. 

The Monastery of Santa María la Real being one of the most important places in the town, next to the foot of the central nave stands out nothing more and nothing less than the Royal Pantheon that serves as a tomb of the kings of Nájera-Pamplona. In the place, built in 1556, the kings of the Jimena and Abarca dynasties are buried, who remained on the throne from 918 to 1076.

As far as the architectural style is concerned, the Royal Pantheon stands out for the Renaissance style in its coffers. There is little to say about its ornamentation, typical of the period and in which austerity gains main prominence. The sepulchral urns are made of white stone, showing his kingly attributes and epitaphs. 

The place where the Monastery of Santa María la Real is located is located loaded with legend. According to this account, at the beginning of the 11th century, King Don García Sánchez III left to hunt around his castle. While he was looking for his falcon he entered deeper and deeper into the forest. There I would find a cave. Upon entering it he discovered an altar with the Virgin and Child. García Sánchez III decided to build here the Monastery of Santa María la Real.