Real Santuario de Montesclaros, Shrine to the Virgin Mary in Valdeprado del Río, Spain.

The Real Santuario de Montesclaros is a shrine to the Virgin Mary situated around 950 meters in elevation in southern Cantabria, surrounded by oak, beech, and hazelnut forests. The site includes convent buildings and religious structures that sit within this wooded mountain setting.

Hermits used the cave at Montesclaros from the 4th–5th centuries, and Roman soldiers from Juliobriga, 8 km away, are credited with spreading Christianity here. A pre-Romanesque crypt found in 1966 above the cave, with a stone altar carved with Ramiro-style sogueado and Celtic symbols, dates to the 10th or early 11th century. From 1217 the shrine was under the patronage of the Kings of Castile; fires struck in 1508, 1573 and 1612, the last destroying its charters. In 1686 Charles II ceded the building to Dominican friars from Las Caldas de Besaya.

The name Montesclaros refers to the cleared, bright hillside where the shrine stands. According to the legend, a shepherd from Los Carabeos found the Virgin in 1178 when one of his bulls began scraping the ground; the procession that climbed the hill praying and singing continues today. The image was moved to the churches of Barruelo and San Andrés but returned each night to the cave, so a small chapel was built over it.

The sanctuary sits in a hilly, forested area with demanding terrain, so warm clothing and sturdy footwear are advisable, especially during rain or cooler months. Reaching out to the shrine beforehand helps with planning your visit and exploring available lodging options in the area.

The shrine houses two sarcophagi of Knights from the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, including Martin Fernández, who was buried in 1385. These tombs connect the site to medieval order history and show the place's importance during that era.