Spain Removes Remains of 11th Century Kings From Monastery as Wildfire Rages
Emergency crews rescued the kings’ remains and other artifacts as the blaze threatened the monastery, with more than 500 firefighters battling the fire.
- On Thursday, the Military Emergency Unit removed the remains of three 11th-century Aragon kings from the Royal Monastery of San Juan de la Peña, relocating them to the Museo de Huesca, 80 km south, for safekeeping.
- The wildfire, which began Monday near Las Peñas de Riglos, intensified Thursday due to high temperatures and strong winds, scorching more than 9,000 hectares and forcing the evacuation of 16 towns in Huesca province.
- Soldiers executed a two-stage extraction, first retrieving 18th-century ceremonial clothing belonging to the Count of Aranda before returning to secure the kings' remains, historical paintings, and carvings as flames neared the cliff-side site.
- Regional vice-president Mar Vaquero praised the rescue team, confirming the artifacts will remain at the Museo de Huesca until conditions improve, while officials warn the fire continues to threaten surrounding protected woodland.
- A larger wildfire in Huelva province has burned 31,000 hectares and forced the evacuation of around 700 people, straining emergency resources across Spain as crews continue battling blazes using 35 aircraft.
68 Articles
68 Articles
Firefighters evacuated urgently the remains of the medieval monarchs of the monastery of San Juan de la Peña in the face of the progression of a major fire in the north-east of the country Spanish firefighters
Those of the first kings of Aragon, preserved in a monastery near Huesca: the flames spread over 100 square kilometers
The Spanish authorities removed the remains of three kings who ruled the Aragon region in the 11th century from a monastery threatened by forest fire. The remains were taken to the provincial museum of Huesca, 80 km south of the monastery, for protection until conditions improved, said the vice president of the northeast region, Mar Vaquero.
Rescuers entered the mountain monastery of San Juan de la Peña on Thursday and retrieved ceremonial vestments belonging to a count buried there in the 18th century before the proximity of the flames forced them to flee. During a second attempt, accompanied by police officers and cultural heritage officials, they recovered the remains of the first three kings of Aragon – Ramiro I, Sancho Ramirez and Pedro I – who ruled the region from 1035 to 110…
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