Suso Monastery
5% discount exclusive for reservations on the web with the code SANMILLANWEB
Suso Monastery
The Monastery of Suso is the oldest monastery of San Millán de la Cogolla. It dates back to the 6th century and arose from the caves inhabited by the disciples of San Millán in the area, around the tomb where he had lived as a hermit. Between the 6th and 10th centuries, there were several extensions in which different styles alternated: Visigothic, Arabic and Romanesque.
The importance of this monastery lies above all in the collection of manuscripts and codices that came from here, such as the Codex Emilianense of the Councils (992), the Bible of Quiso (664) and a copy of the Apocalypse (8th century). It is here that the oldest written manifestation of the Spanish Language, the Emilianense Glosses, will emerge, which is why this monastery of Suso and our town are considered to be the ‘Cradle of Castilian Spanish’.
Hours
CLOSED FOR RESTORATION
‘The Monastery of Suso is a real jewel of the Spanish heritage and an almost obligatory visit during your stay at Hostería San Millán’
‘A visit to the Monastery of Suso is a walk through the history of the Castilian language and some of the oldest and most valued manuscripts and codices in the history of mankind’
The Monastery of Yuso, an architectural jewel
The Monastery of Suso is a reflection of the evolution of religious architecture in Spain. Its oldest structures, the hermit caves, are simple and austere, suitable for the life of retreat and contemplation that characterised the first monks. The Visigothic church, built in the 7th century, is one of the oldest examples of Christian architecture on the Iberian Peninsula.
In the 10th century, during the Muslim domination of much of Spain, the monastery underwent a phase of Mozarabic construction. The Mozarabic church, built over the earlier Visigothic church, includes architectural and decorative elements characteristic of Islamic influence. The Romanesque phase, which developed from the 11th century onwards, brought a series of extensions and modifications to the monastic complex.
The Monastery of Suso and its cultural importance
The Monastery of Suso is significant not only for its architecture, but also for its contribution to Spanish culture and literature. It was here that the Glosas Emilianenses, marginal commentaries written in the margins of a Latin codex, were found. These glosses, written in a mixture of Vulgar Latin, Navarrese-Aragonese and Basque, are one of the earliest written testimonies in the Romance language on the Iberian Peninsula, and represent a milestone in the evolution of the Spanish language.
The monastery was also an important centre of literary production and translation during the Middle Ages. The monks of Suso copied manuscripts and translated texts, playing a crucial role in the preservation and transmission of classical and religious knowledge.
Visiting the Suso Monastery
Today, the Suso Monastery is a popular tourist destination and pilgrimage site. Visitors can explore the original hermits’ caves, the Visigothic church, the Mozarabic structures and the Romanesque extensions. The visit offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of religious architecture and the history of monastic life in Spain.
Access to the monastery is limited and is done through guided tours in order to protect and preserve this important heritage. Bus tours are organised from the Yuso Monastery to take tourists to Suso, due to its location on a mountainside..
