San Baudelio de Berlanga, 11th-century hermitage church in Caltojar, Spain.
San Baudelio de Berlanga is an 11th-century hermitage church in Caltojar, a small village in the province of Soria in Spain. Inside, a central palm tree-shaped column supports eight horseshoe arches that extend to the walls like branches.
The chapel was built around 1060 during the consolidation of Christian kingdoms in the region and received national monument status through a Royal Order in 1917. In the early 20th century, large portions of the wall paintings were removed and sold abroad before protective measures could take effect.
The interior walls once held Romanesque frescoes from 1125, showing biblical scenes and everyday motifs shaped by both Christian and Islamic traditions. These artworks were later removed and now rest in various museums across Europe and the United States.
The site opens Tuesday through Sunday during June to August, with morning hours from 10 to 14 and afternoon hours from 16 to 20. Outside these months, different opening hours apply, so checking ahead for current visiting arrangements is worthwhile.
Inside the chapel, a small cave connects the main building to an underground space, suggesting the earlier presence of a religious hermit. This natural grotto likely served as a retreat for prayer and meditation before the current structure was built.
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