| What makes it historical? |
This was Alfonso VI’s pet monastery in the 12th century AD, which he really wanted to be the Spanish version of the Benedictine monastery at Cluny! For some reason, he really loved the Benedictines like some people love certain types of wine, so he arranged for the construction of this monastery in honor of Saints Facundo and Primitivo (the name, Sahagún, may come from the abbreviation “San Facun”). He thus issued the Fuero de Sahagún, which encouraged merchants from all over to come and do business in Sahagún. This made the city a booming center for business and culture and the monastery one of the most powerful in Spain! Unfortunately, between 1835 and 1837, the monastery fell victim to the Desamortización of Mendizabal, government confiscation of church-owned property (especially monasteries). Thus, the monastery, and the rest of the town with it, fell to decay! |
