Libredón
Legendary forest where Saint James's body was buried.
Libredón was a forest, sometimes also described as a mountain, near Santiago de Compostela. According to legend, it is the place where the body of Saint James was laid to rest after being transported from Padrón.
- location
- Near Santiago de Compostela, Galicia
- also described as
- Mountain
- associated with
- Saint James the Apostle
- legendary burial site of
- Saint James and his disciples Theodore and Athanasius
- modern identification
- Oak grove of Santa Susana, part of Parque da Alameda de Santiago de Compostela
Lore & Background
According to legend, Saint James preached in Hispania and the Holy Land before being martyred in Israel at the orders of Herod Agrippa. His disciples carried his body by sea to Hispania, landing at Padrón on the coast of Galicia. The Codex Calixtinus, in Book III: Transfer of the body to Santiago, describes how the disciples Theodore and Athanasius moved his body from Padrón in a cart pulled by oxen to the Libredón forest, previously called Liberum Donum, where he was buried. The journey is also described in stories involving Queen Lupa.
Reader's Guide
Libredón holds significance as the legendary resting place of Saint James, whose tomb became the focus of the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage. The forest was forgotten until the 9th century, when Pelagius the Hermit saw lights illuminating the forest and advised Bishop Theodemir of Iria Flavia. They discovered a small chapel with an altar and a crypt containing three tombs: those of Saint James and his two disciples. King Alfonso the Chaste of Galicia traveled from Oviedo along the Camino Primitivo to verify the bones, then ordered a chapel built on the site. Traditionally, the forest is believed to be located at the Oak grove of Santa Susana, a hill in Santiago de Compostela that is part of the Parque da Alameda de Santiago de Compostela, between Paseo da Alameda and Paseo da Ferradura.
Did You Know?
- Libredón was previously called Liberum Donum.
- The body of Saint James was moved from Padrón to Libredón in a cart pulled by oxen.
- The forest was rediscovered in the 9th century after Pelagius the Hermit saw lights there.
- The site is traditionally identified with the Oak grove of Santa Susana in Santiago de Compostela.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Libredón?
Libredón is a legendary forest—sometimes referred to as a mountain—situated near Santiago de Compostela in Galicia. In Christian tradition it is remembered as the spot where the Apostle Saint James was laid to rest after his remains were carried from Padrón.
Who was buried at Libredón?
The legend holds that Saint James the Apostle, together with his two disciples Theodore and Athanasius, were interred at this site. Their burial there is the event that ultimately gave rise to the famous pilgrimage destination of Santiago de Compostela.
Where is Libredón located?
It is placed in the vicinity of Santiago de Compostela, in the Galicia region of Spain. Some accounts describe the site as a mountain rather than a woodland, though both descriptions appear in the tradition.
What is Libredón identified as in modern times?
Local tradition and scholarly work link Libredón to the oak grove of Santa Susana, which lies within the Parque da Alameda in Santiago de Compostela. This grove is regarded as the closest surviving trace of the ancient forest mentioned in the legend.
Why is Libredón important to the Santiago de Compostela story?
It marks the pivotal moment in the legend where Saint James's body was first laid to earth in Galicia, setting the stage for the later discovery of his tomb and the founding of the great cathedral. Without this burial site, the entire Santiago pilgrimage narrative would lack its origin point.
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