San Antolín de Bedón, 13th-century Romanesque church in Llanes, Spain.
San Antolín de Bedón is a Romanesque church from the 13th century with three interior spaces at varying heights, divided by pointed arches supported by stone columns. The building concludes with three semicircular apses typical of the period and region.
Built in 1205 under Abbot Juan's leadership, the church began as a Benedictine monastery church in this region. Asturian nobles donated lands and property to it, and King Charles I stopped here in 1517 during his journey to Castile.
The carvings along the roof edges depict everyday people, creatures, and plants in ways that reflect local beliefs and craftsmanship traditions of medieval northern Spain. Visitors notice these stone details as they observe the building, connecting them to the hands that shaped this sacred space.
The church sits where the River Bedón meets the coast near a sandy beach, accessible mainly through guided visits and organized group tours. Planning ahead to confirm opening hours and arranging access with local staff is recommended.
This church is the sole surviving building from what was once a larger Benedictine monastery with multiple structures. The roof design blends wooden framing in the naves with ribbed vaulting in the transept, showing different construction techniques used across the building.
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