HISTORY AND DESCRIPTION OF THE IRACHE MONASTERY
At the foot of the Montejurra mountain, on the side of the French Way of Santiago, in the town of Ayegui, stands the Monastery of Santa Maria la Real de Irache; in the merindad of Estella.
Archaeological and architectural estimates place its origins in the 8th century, although some of the buildings are from the 11th century and The church is from the 12th century. Today it is preserved as one of the most important monuments of the cultural heritage of Navarra.
Throughout history this architectural complex has had different uses, Jacobean hospital in the 11th century, Benedictine University of Irache Abbey, was the first university in Navarra, between the 16th and 19th centuries and also functioned as temporary hospital during the Carlist wars. The Monastery occupies an area of 6905 m2 made up of: the church, cloister, sacristy, the chapter house with its impressive 16th century star vault and the refectory.
The Church
Was built in the 12th century on a previous temple, Is cistercian style and Romanesque headboard. The plant is Latin cross with three naves, the decoration of the columns and capitals has pointed medallions. The transept roof has a vault on corbels with vegetal motifs and heads. He apse has three semicircular sections and in the central section, the decoration of the capitals tells historical events.
In the side naves or pointed windows that allow the natural light entry to the temple and in the transept a rose window fulfills the same function. on the facade two romanesque doors with stories in relief. The one from the west of the 13th century with late Gothic style, pointed arches, archivolts, pilasters and columns attached to the sides, with capitals decorated in the Cistercian style. Towards the north, the gate of San Pedro, with five archivolts supported by columns with capitals and historic architectural details. Another door of the church is the Especiosa that communicates with the cloister and has the Savior and the Virgin Mary as decorative figures.Read more
Of the exterior decoration the apse stands out with windows and oculi. The cornices are decorated with various historic motifs, cistercians, with human, animal and other fantastic figures; corbels, attached columns and capitals.
Cloister
In Irache there are two cloisters, one located to the south of the complex, known as the old cloister. Is next to the church and access is through the Speciosa gate. Was constructed in the sixteenth century and it's from late gothic style; It has a rectangular floor plan and pandas covered by star vaults and Plateresque and Renaissance decorative details. The upper floor is in the Mannerist style.
El new cloister It is located in the western section of the monastery. It was built of bricks in seventeenth century and later, in the 19th century, it was added a piarist construction which divided it into two sections: one square and the other rectangular. It has double arches on three sides, and windows on the other.
Tower
Attached to the west door of the church is the tower. Is Herrerian style and was built in seventeenth century. You have three decreasing bodies and in the last one is the bell tower.
The Specious Door
It is a beautiful door that connects the church with the old cloister, its construction is XNUMXth century. It has a triple semicircular arch and is decorated with medallions and busts of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. In the niche it is represented the Assumption of the Virgin with angels, Saint Benedict and Saint Bernard and an image of the eternal Father in relief.
Irache Wineries
Es of the oldest wineries in Navarra, founded in nineteenth century to continue the tradition and production that since the 10th century they carried out the Benedictine monks of the monastery.
The wine from the vineyards of the Irache monastery was used as a restorative for the pilgrims who arrived tired and hungry from the long journey, and even to treat some of his wounds. Its extraordinary quality led it to the banquet table of the family of the Kingdom of Navarra and to be exported to Portugal and France.
Today the Irache wineries are property of the Santesteban family, who, inspired by the architectural beauty of the Monastery, have created an original winery for aging its wines reminiscent of the spaces of the church of Santa María, with its imposing columns and arches semicircular, in a kind of wine cathedral.
This impressive winery has the capacity to preserve ten thousand barrels of American and French oak where the delicious wines are aged and where They preserve their reserves and large reserves in the maturation phase.
In addition, they offer guided tours to its vineyards and facilities, tastings, tasting and the sale of their products.
Wine Fountain
At Bodegas Irache we want honor the past rescuing the old custom of offering bread and wine to the pilgrim, in this case they do not have bread, but they do have wine and every day, they fill the wine fountain with one hundred liters, so that the traveler can drink and regain strength there.
The wine fountain has been in operation since 1991 and is a mandatory stop for those who make a pilgrimage to Santiago of Compostela for the French Way.
