Santa María la Real de Irache

A Benedictian monastery, with strong ties to Cluny, existed here in 958, after the Reconquista had reconquered the area about 50 years earlier. There are hints, that a convent may have been here already in Visigothic times. The monastery offered a "hopital" to the pilgrims already in 1054, when Estrella (just 4kms north) was not even founded. This was an important place during the early times of pilgrimage.

The large bell tower, seen here, was built in 1609, replacing the two Romanesque towers, that originally flanked the portal of the church built within the 12th and 13th century.

Noontime in August is probably the worst time of the day, to take photos here...