The natural mysticism of the Thebaid Berciana
- Position
- Espinoso de Compludo
It was the 6th century, when a young man belonging to the Visigoth noble class discovered an isolated corner where his father's flocks grazed. The silent peace and extreme beauty seduced what would later become Saint Fructuoso, who said he found in those forests the mystical air that he had never breathed anywhere else.
Thus began the genesis of the first hermitage and monastic movement on the Peninsula, a phenomenon that was compared to what happened in the Egyptian valley of Thebes where the first Christian hermitages were founded. Hence the name Tebaida Berciana arises from the territory that includes the Valley of Silence and the Oza and Compludo rivers.
Visiting these corners of southern Bercia is like abandoning yourself to the ecstasy of the senses. In the village of Compludo, where San Fructuoso founded the first monastery dedicated to Saints Justo and Pastor, the mural paintings of its humble church and the 7th century blacksmith shop still in operation draw powerful attention, but no less unique are the groves of centuries-old chestnut trees scattered everywhere, nor the beautiful Bercian popular architecture of Carracedo de Compludo and Palacios de Compludo.
Image gallery
What to see?
Sounds of life in the Valley of SilenceMore informationA river of crystalline waters winds its way along a narrow twisting valley flanked by steep slopes that leads into a landscape that is ideal for unhurried travellers seeking to enjoy all the calm peacefulness...
Peñalba de SantiagoMore informationThe cobbled and dreamy Peñalba de Santiago boasts authenticity and beauty, spirituality and contact with nature. The passage of time seems to have not made a dent in this magical corner of the Valley of...
Break in BierzoMore informationEl Bierzo is one of the best-known regions in Castilla y León, filled with surprises and history, making this a truly thrilling route.Countless attractions draw tourists to El Bierzo, and Ponferrada in...
Herreria de CompludoMore informationOn the occasion of the 13th commemoration of San Fructuoso in 1966, the beginnings of this type of industry are associated with the origins of the monastery of Compludo, founded by the saint in the 7th...
Monastery of San Pedro de MontesMore informationFounded in the 7th century by San Fructuoso, it remained active until the Muslim invasion. It was restored later by San Genadio. The reconstruction dates from the 12th to the 13th centuries. Nowadays it...