Carboeiro Monastery, Silleda, Spain

The Monastery of San Lorenzo de Carboeiro is one of the most outstanding architectural works of the late Romanesque, the transition to the Gothic, in Galicia.

Its gestation was founded in the year 939 AD. When the construction was completed, the priest Felix was chosen as the first abbot of the community.

Its moments of greatest splendor were between 11th and 13th centuries. Abbot Fernando, from 1162 to 1192, expanded the church. At this stage the monastery belonged to the 'Cluny' order, and for a long period has a rich estate.

During the 15th century lawsuits, neglect and mismanagement, lead to the community’s ruin, and in 1500 by order of Ferdinand and Isabella, it is relegated to the status of priory, a farm for San Martiño Pinario in Santiago, prolonging its decline, including a prison built for monks in 1794 and until 1836, coinciding with tits confiscation by Mendizabal, and its total abandonment.

The church and some other buildings are still in good condition, after the works of restoration and recovery made during the second half of the twentieth century.

References:

Silleda Tourism

User Reviews

Charo Rey (10 months ago)
Interesting and nice walk around it.

Maria Blanco (2 years ago)
Fillo of caracter

Orestes Carracedo (2 years ago)
Beautiful building surrounded by nature. Truly a nice place to explore una a calm sunny day. Stay for the sunset and make sure you bring a nice camera with you.

Alejandro García Permuy (3 years ago)
AMAZING EXPERIENCE. VISIT THE CRIPT

Andrea Urbán (3 years ago)
So this is the place where you pay 1.5 euros entry fee and you just wander around. First we looked around in the monastery, which is a wonderful building. You can climb up to the towers and down to the crypt. Really nice. Then you walk down to the bridge, which is again a tranquil place, fantastic structure. And it is not finished yet! Take the botanical walk, halfway through you will find a small house with a path leading down to the river bank.... take bathing suit! The water is fresh but clean, sunbathing there and listening to the water flowing. Such a magical and quiet place! Absolute worth to visit!

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Erik Christensen, Porkeri

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Kirkjubøargarður

Kirkjubøargarður ('Yard of Kirkjubøur', also known as King"s Farm) is one of the oldest still inhabited wooden houses of the world. The farm itself has always been the largest in the Faroe Islands. The old farmhouse dates back to the 11th century. It was the episcopal residence and seminary of the Diocese of the Faroe Islands, from about 1100. Sverre I of Norway (1151–1202), grew up here and went to the priest school. The legend says, that the wood for the block houses came as driftwood from Norway and was accurately bundled and numbered, just for being set up. Note, that there is no forest in the Faroes and wood is a very valuable material. Many such wood legends are thus to be found in Faroese history.

The oldest part is a so-called roykstova (reek parlour, or smoke room). Perhaps it was moved one day, because it does not fit to its foundation. Another ancient room is the loftstovan (loft room). It is supposed that Bishop Erlendur wrote the 'Sheep Letter' here in 1298. This is the earliest document of the Faroes we know today. It is the statute concerning sheep breeding on the Faroes. Today the room is the farm"s library. The stórastovan (large room) is from a much later date, being built in 1772.

Though the farmhouse is a museum, the 17th generation of the Patursson Family, which has occupied it since 1550, is still living here. Shortly after the Reformation in the Faroe Islands in 1538, all the real estate of the Catholic Church was seized by the King of Denmark. This was about half of the land in the Faroes, and since then called King"s Land (kongsjørð). The largest piece of King"s Land was the farm in Kirkjubøur due to the above-mentioned Episcopal residence. This land is today owned by the Faroese government, and the Paturssons are tenants from generation to generation. It is always the oldest son, who becomes King"s Farmer, and in contrast to the privately owned land, the King"s Land is never divided between the sons.

The farm holds sheep, cattle and some horses. It is possible to get a coffee here and buy fresh mutton and beef directly from the farmer. In the winter season there is also hare hunting for the locals. Groups can rent the roykstovan for festivities and will be served original Faroese cuisine.

Other famous buildings directly by the farmhouse are the Magnus Cathedral and the Saint Olav"s Church, which also date back to the mediaeval period. All three together represent the Faroe Island"s most interesting historical site.

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