Monasterio de San Millán de Suso

Monasterio de San Millán de Suso - Wikimedia Commons/Pedro M. Martínez Corada

This monastery was one of the most important spiritual centers of Navarre and Castile during the Middle Ages. It has its origin in San Millán, a 6th century hermit famous for his charitable works and miracles. This saint lived in a cave and over time many people joined him, becoming his disciples, which were expanding the system of caves to live in them.

After his death, his disciples built a small monastery next to the caves, which was reformed and expanded during the following centuries, combining Visigothic, Romanesque and Mozarabic styles.

By the middle of the 11th century the institution had grown so much that it was necessary to move to another building at the bottom of the valley. This is known as the Monastery of Yuso, of which neither its church nor its original Romanesque cloister are preserved.

The oldest altar in Spain

Inside the caves we can find the cenotaph -a funerary monument in which the body of the person to whom it is dedicated is not present- of San Millán, together with several unidentified tombs.

To the right of the cave we find three hollows excavated in the rock, each with a semicircular arch. This is considered by some historians to be the oldest altar in Spain.

Monastery of San Millán de Suso: Opening hours and visits

• Between Easter and October the opening hours are from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to 18.30.
• From September to Easter they are from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 16.00 to 17.30.

The monastery offers guided tours from Tuesday to Sunday, for which it is necessary to book in advance. In addition, it is not possible to access the complex in private vehicles, but must be done through the bus line enabled for this purpose, which picks up visitors at the reception building.