Church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano, Castrojeriz

In the late fifteenth and early sixteenth century the Manzano collegiate underwent some reforms, such as the transformation of some of its vaults and the enforcement of the rosette in the main entrance.

In the eighteenth century, as indicated by Father Flórez in España Sagrada, masses were officiated in the temple in memory of Alfonso VII the Emperor, Sancho IV of Castile and his wife Queen María de Molina, and Ferdinand IV of Castile and his wife, queen Constance of Portugal.

The same author relates that, in the eighteenth century, the chapter of the collegiate church of Nuestra Señora del Manzano consisted of the abbot, twelve canons, three dignities and eight prebendaries.

[4] The main portal of the church is Gothic, it is located at the foot of the temple and is in the style of a flared bow with Archivolts and baquetones with bases and capitals in plant motifs.

On either side are located two stone sculptures from the thirteenth century, and representing the Virgin Mary and the Archangel Gabriel, covered with canopies and supported by brackets.

In the rose window of the main portal, which was recently restored, God is depicted in an attitude of blessing, and surrounded by the apostles.

The primitive apse of the church disappeared after the reforms carried out on the temple in the eighteenth century, when it was replaced by the current rectangular head.

There is a painting of the Virgin de las Cerezas in the choir, a work attributed to the Flemish painter Pieter Pourbus.

The image of Nuestra Señora del Manzano, made using polychrome stone is located in the chapel that bears its name, built in the eighteenth century.

[1][2] The Virgin Mary is depicted standing and wearing a blue tunic, dotted with stars, and covered with a cloak gathered at her waist.

The central altarpiece in the chapel, in Baroque style, and in which the image of Nuestra Señora del Manzano is housed, was gilded by painter Barranco Martinez Burgos, who was a pupil of Mengs.

The tomb attributed to Queen Eleanor of Castile is located at the foot of the Collegiate,[6] near the baptistery, and was discovered in June 1970 by the Missionary Rescue Group from the Agrupación Escolar Marqués in Camarasa.

A prominent feature of the museum is the magnificent German stained glass rose window, on the north side of the temple.

View of the exterior of the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Manzano in Castrojeriz .
Grave of the Queen Eleanor of Castile (1307–1359) in the Iglesia de Nuestra Señora del Manzano