Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada, SPAIN
The once parochial Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada, in the Diocese of Lugo, is today a chapel. There are pre-Romanesque remains on the walls linked to pre-existing construction dating from the end of the 6th to the 9th century. Most of the existing structure dates from the 12th to the 13th centuries (with the exception of the outer walls, which were renovated in the 1970s).
The building has a single nave and gabled roof, a presbytery covered by a pointed barrel vault and, separating both, a rounded triumphal arch. Both sides of the arch and the presbytery walls are covered with frescoes from 1582. They depict several saints and biblical scenes, including the passion and death of Jesus Christ. The author of these frescoes appears to have been familiar with Gothic and Flemish traditions, but also more recent Renaissance forms of Italian origin. The outer walls of the chapel were drastically remodelled in 1975 due to significant risk of collapse.
The Via Künig passes very close to Pousada; it is a variant of the Camino Francés to Santiago, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List by UNESCO and designated as a European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe. Nearby is the town of Baralla and the bank of the Neira river. Pousada was thus an enclave of great importance in Roman times due to the (gold) mining sites, known as “Timalino”. Baralla and Pousada were thus a part of Via Romana XIX. The church was also the central meeting point and the main place of worship for the surrounding community, known as Santo Estevo de Neira. It is also important to note that the church, now chapel, of Santo Estevo is the first of a series of churches with pictorial cycles on that part of the Via XIX.
Despite such prominent origins, the building is under increasing threats: as the roof is damaged, weather phenomena become increasingly impactful on the inside and notably on the frescoes; water leakages are also noted in the foundations. Furthermore, beetle infestations, termites, and invasive vegetation contribute to the rising risk of collapse. Finally, the isolated location contributes to vandalism and theft risks.
To summarise, the Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada would merit being added to the catalogue of cultural places of interest. Moreover, its restoration, including the immediate surroundings, should be undertaken to renew its religious use and to unlock its doubtless potential for the social and economic development of the area and for expanding cultural tourism, thus slowing the ongoing abandonment of the villages nearby. Also, awareness of the historical and cultural significance of the site should be increased. The cooperation between the owner, the Diocese of Lugo, the nominator of the site to the 7 Most Endangered Programme 2025, Future for Religious Heritage, and Europa Nostra aims at contributing to such an objective.
The owner is currently preparing a report for the repair of the roof. The City Council of Baralla and the regional government are also committed to its enhancement and improvement of access.
The Advisory Panel of the 7 Most Endangered Programme stated: “The Church of Santo Estevo de Pousada is of exceptional interest due to its history, its location, its natural environment, and its content. The church features a 13th-century baptismal font and the best preserved 16th-century mural paintings in the area. There is the possibility of upgrading the existing paths to extend the pedestrian areas to this area of the river and connect with the route of the Künig Way to Santiago de Compostela. In addition, in the future it could serve as an advanced point for other similar churches that are more difficult to access (such as Berselos, Covas, Vale and Lexo).”