Flames force Spanish troops to evacuate 1,000-year-old kings’ bones from burning monastery
The remains had lain undisturbed in their stone pantheon for almost a thousand years, but a wildfire closing in on […]
Firefighters in northeastern Spain worked urgently to rescue priceless relics from a 1,000-year-old monastery threatened by a rapidly advancing wildfire. The blaze erupted earlier in the week and closed in on the historic San Juan de la Peña monasteries, a key landmark of the Aragon region. Legend ties the oldest monastery to the Holy Grail, dating back to the 10th century and housing the remains of Aragon's first medieval kings.
The army's emergency unit (UME) shared footage of officers rushing to save the monastery's priceless treasures, including relics in transparent boxes, artwork, and a chalice, as flames neared the ancient site. Javier Marcos, UME chief, affirmed the rescue of such valuable historical assets for Spain and the region. The UME stated they could not predict the fire's progression, leading to ongoing personnel defending both monasteries.
San Juan de la Peña is a pilgrimage site along Saint James' famous routes to the northwestern city of Santiago de Compostela, welcoming around 100,000 visitors annually. Felix Longas, a local religious brotherhood member, emphasized the site's "incalculable symbolic value," representing roots and history for the Aragon region. Wind changes aided in containing the flames at bay.
Due to the wildfire's proximity, more than 10,000 hectares were affected, and approximately 850 people were evacuated from small settlements and villages. Aragon's leader Jorge Azcon did not rule out future evacuations, and three firefighting aircraft from France were prepared to join the roughly 500 officers already battling the blaze.
Europe's recent heatwaves have created ideal wildfire conditions, with Spain experiencing its worst disaster in recent history in July, near Madrid. Aragon currently faces the second-highest orange heat warning, with temperatures reaching 37C near the fire. Wildfires have scorched over 283,000 hectares across Spain this year, as reported by the European Forest Fire Information System, following a record-breaking 2025 with nearly 400,000 hectares destroyed.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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