Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de Contrueces

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Contrueces is a Catholic church located in the autonomous community of Asturias (Spain), in the southern part of the urban area of Gijón, within the neighborhood of Contrueces. It stands as a significant landmark in Gijón’s history, as the Virgin venerated in this temple was regarded by many residents of Gijón as the city’s patroness for numerous years. The earliest documents attesting to the existence of this church date back to the early 10th century and are found in the Book of Testaments, which includes a document signed on August 28, 905, in Cortuloces—a suburb of Gijón—for the benefit of the church of Ourense. This document records the confirmation by King Alfonso III and his wife Jimena. Further references to this church appear in the Diploma of Ourense from the 10th century (or possibly the 11th), as well as in documents related to the Monastery of San Vicente, the writings of Sampiro, and other sources. From the 12th to the 16th centuries, a period of obscurity ensues, with no surviving records. In 1636, the local residents highlighted the need to establish a fair in Contrueces, arguing that it would both encourage devotion to the Virgin and yield significant economic benefits by boosting transactions involving the buying and selling of horses, cattle, and mules. These activities took place around the sanctuary, capitalizing on the large in