Sahagún - San Tirso

Legend tells, that in the 3rd century, the Facundus and Primitivus were martyred here. In 872 a monastery was founded in honor of the two martyrs, but it was destroyed again in 873. After the reconstruction, there was further destruction by Almansor at the end of the 10th century.

The Way of St. James runs here and when in 1085, a market town was founded, which, was endowed with royal privileges, it was very attractive to pilgrims to settle here. In 1085 the bridge over the Rio Cea was also built, which is still in use.

Thanks to donations from Alfonso VI. and his successors, Sahagún became the most powerful abbey on the Camino Francés, minting its own coins. The decline began at the latest when the Catholic Monarchs decided to support the monastery of San Benito in Valladolid. Sahagún became dependent on this monastery and lost importance and privileges.

San Tirso is located just about 200m apart from San Lorenzo. So it may have been built at the same time in the Mudejar style. The church benefited from donations from passing pilgrims. Since the flow of pilgrims almost came to a standstill after the Reformation, the brick building fell into disrepair, but was largely restored in the 20th century.

Seen in the background is the tower of the destroyed monastery of San Benito