Santa María la Real of Nájera de tus muertos

The monastery features fortified exterior walls, Gothic ribbed vaults, and a magnificent cloister built between 1517 and 1528 with plateresque decorations.

King García Sánchez III of Navarre established the monastery in 1052 after discovering a statue of Virgin Mary in a cave during a hunting expedition.

The Royal Mausoleum contains tombs of Nájera-Pamplona monarchs and nobles, representing centuries of Spanish aristocratic heritage within its walls.

The monastery opens daily for guided tours, allowing visitors to explore the church, cloister, and cave where the Virgin Mary statue was found.

The carved choir stalls, created between 1493 and 1495, display intricate Gothic woodwork depicting religious scenes and medieval daily life.

Location: Nájera

Inception: 11 century

Founders: García Sánchez III of Pamplona

Part of: Way of Saint James in La Rioja

Website: http://santamarialareal.net

GPS coordinates: 42.41611,-2.73564

Latest update: September 23, 2025 14:19