Sahagún is a small town located in the province of León, in the northwest of Spain. It is famous for its rich history, beautiful architecture, and its role in the Christian reconquest of the region.
The town is known for its well-preserved Romanesque architecture, including the Church of San Tirso, the Monastery of San Benito, and the Palace of San Agustín.
Shortly before entering Sahagún, pilgrims pass by the hermitage of the Virgen del Puente. Sahagún is known as the ‘capital of the poor Romanesque’ since it was built of mudbrick instead of stone. The town takes its name from Saint Facundus (San Fagundo or San Fagún in Spanish).
It was the Benedictine monastery of San Benito that brought life to this town. It was destroyed and reconstructed several times when at last, Alfonso III the Great populated the monastery with monks from Córdoba escaping from the Arab invasion. King Alfonso VI gave the monastery privileges, which made a great impact on the development of the town.
Sahagún holds numerous examples of the rich development of that era: the churches of San Tirso (12th century) and San Lorenzo (13th century), both of Romanesque-mudéjar style; those of neoclassic style of the Trinidad (16th century) and of San Juan de Sahagún (17th century), along with the sanctuary of the Virgen Peregrina (old Franciscan convent) and the museum of the Benedictine nuns.
Pilgrims leave the town by crossing over a stone bridge named Puente del Canto (‘bridge of songs’) on the Cea river, constructed in 1085 by the order of Alfonso VI.
Accommodation in Sahagún
| Hotel name | Type | Price range | Room type | Other |
| Hostal Alfonso VI | Guest house | Budget | Private rooms | Shared lounge, Luggage storage, WiFi, Non-smoking rooms, Breakfast available |
| Albergue hostal Sahagún | Albergue | Budget | Private rooms With private bathrooms | Terrace, Bar, Non-smoking rooms, WiFi |
| Hostal San Juan | Guest house | Mid-range | Private rooms | Breakfast included, Non-smoking rooms, Facilities for disabled guests, WiFi |
What to see in Sahagún
Iglesia de San Tirso
It was built in the 12th century, the first in the line of several other churches built in the Romanesque-mudéjar style characteristic of the town. One of the features of the Sahagún mudéjar style is the rectangular tower divided into 3 levels, rising above the straight section of the central apse.
Monasterio Real de San Benito
The construction of the monastery started around 900 under Alfonso lll, on the site of an existing smaller building. It was Alfonso lV, however, who decided to swear his royal oath in the monastery which attracted a lot of monks from Cluny to Sahagún.
Puente del Canto
Over centuries the Bridge of Songs was the only passageway to Sahagún over the Cea river. Many military troops have marched over it since Roman times.
Tradition has it that a battle took place here between Charlemagne’s army and the Muslims. The Muslim attack came by night, taking the Frankish soldiers by surprise. The Franks fled, leaving their spears stuck into the ground along the banks of the river Cea. Soon a poplar forest grew where the spears had been planted.