monastery ruins building

Traveling westward in Spain ~ Cáceres (region) The Monastery of Valbon is located on a granite plateau about five kilometers from Valencia de Alcantara. The current ruined building was built in the 16th century. There are two versions that try to explain its origins: the most legendary was created by a group of pilgrims returning from the Abbey of Sainte-Marie in the French town of Valbonne, from where they gave the temple its name. However, another, more historical explanation suggests that the monument was built together with other monasteries in 1569 at the request of Philip II and named "Valbón" (from the Portuguese "good valley" ) naming. The works will be entrusted to Juan Bravo, an important figure in the architectural panorama of Extremadura in the 16th century, and the Marian image named after this topographical consecration is housed in the sanctuary . This carving was declared patron saint of the town in 1618 and was confirmed in 1678 as patron saint not only of the town but of the entire region. The monastery was destroyed during the War of Succession after Portuguese troops invaded the city. However, its final decline was caused by the 18th century declaration of the Virgen de los Remedios as the town's patron saint, as this other carving is housed a few kilometers away from Valencia de Alcantara (Valencia de Alcántara) Closer hermitage. The end of the veneration of Our Lady of Valbon led to the monument being forgotten and abandoned, and the carvings were moved to the convent of Santa Clara, where nothing has been heard from since 1910. Starting next to it, climb the Zafra I, II, III and IV dolmens, from where it is easy to enter the monastery through the lanes between the farms and then follow the path back to the town. It is strongly recommended that the 12-kilometer route has a gradient of no more than 300 meters. #2024TravelReview #SpainTravel #Extremadura