
Locality: MURUZÁBAL (31152)
Address: Iglesia de Santa María de Eunate
Zone: The Central Zone
Style: Romanesque
Centuries of construction: XII
Visiting hours: de verano 2010: de martes a domingo, de 10:30 a 13:30 y de 17:00 a 20:00. Lunes, cerrada.
At twilight, or taking advantage of the subtle colours of dawn is the best time to discover one of the loveliest and most evocative churches on the Pilgrim's Way to Santiago de Compostela: the church of Our Lady of Eunate (1170), a simple, unique and mysterious building.
It stands in solitude just before you reach Puente la Reina in the middle of a flat, open landscape which takes on the colour of sunflowers in summer. Its octagonal layout and the cloister that surrounds it differentiate it from any other Romanesque church.
The continuing mystery about its origin and its unsettling interior have aroused great interest in this church, which has been a pilgrims' hospital, a funeral chapel, a beacon and guide for walkers, a place of Christian worship and a telluric sanctuary for those seeking esoteric powers.
Come and be fascinated by its enigmatic geometry and breathtaking interior, and try to guess the meaning of its name in Basque: "one hundred doors".
*Timetables and prices are approximate. Please check with the institution.