Muxia
Encyclopedia
Muxia is a coastal town in the province of A Coruña
, in Galicia, Spain
. It is one of the final destinations for pilgrims on the Way of St. James
after visiting the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great
in Santiago de Compostela
.
Muxia is known for its spectacular beaches. It has an active fishing industry.
Muxia is part of the 'Costa da Morte
' or 'Costa de la Muerte' (i.e., the "Coast of Death"). The Costa Da Morte was given this name because of the large number of shipwrecks along its rocky shore. The Costa Da Morte is one of the three regions of the Costa del Marisco, or "The Seafood Coast."
Muxia is 3 kilometers from a famous Benedictine
monastery that is now used as a church, the Church of San Julián de Moraime
. The name of the town, "Muxia", refers to the monks who established this monastery. Another famous church in the area is the "Santuario da Virxe da Barca" which stands on a rocky ridge above the surf.
There are several locations along the Costa da Morte that have a "pedra de abalar
", (i.e., an "oscillating stone"), or rocking stone
. One of these is in Muxia, the "Pedra da Barca". These are large stones that are balanced on a point, so that they can be moved back and forth easily, or even wiggle in response to the wind. These were used at one time to determine the guilt or innocence of those accused of serious crimes.
There was a serious oil spill along the Muxia part of the coast in 2002, but it has recovered substantially. The oil tanker "Prestige
" leaked about 70,000 gallons of oil into the Atlantic
in November 2002.
Suevi kingdom. The Moors
replaced the Germans, who were displaced in the 8th or 9th century by the king of Asturias
.
The monastery near Muxia was named "Mosteiro de Moraime" to honor the saint, San Xiao de Moraime, and was established in the early 12th century. Not long after, in 1105, it was attacked and destroyed by Norman
pirates, and later by Saxons
. Alfonso Raimúndez, the future King and Emperor
Alfonso VII of León and Castile, had lived in the area when he was younger and was educated by Pedro Froilaz de Traba. Although he was only 14 at the time, Alfonso restored the monastery with a donation in 1119.
The nearby church dedicated to "Nosa Senora da Barca", the "Santuario da Virxe da Barca" was originally a pre-Christian Celtic church and sacred spot. This part of Spain was resistant to conversion to Christianity
, and was only converted in the 12th century. The Christians built a hermit
age on this location at first, and later the present church in the 17th century.
Legend has it that one of the apostles was trying to Christianize the local inhabitants and was having no luck and was discouraged. The Virgin Mary appeared to the apostle to comfort him. The Celtic stones near the church are now said to be remains of the Virgin Mary's stone boat.
Throughout the Middle Ages
this region rebelled against the
crown.
Muxia was purchased by King Carlos of Castile
(the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
) in the 16th century so he could have a more convenient port, and thus improve his kingdom's commerce and connections with England
, where his cousin was Mary I
.
Muxia was destroyed in the 19th century by Napoleon´s forces.
A Coruña (province)
The province of A Coruña is the most North-western Atlantic-facing province of Spain, and one of the four provinces which constitute the autonomous community of Galicia...
, in Galicia, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It is one of the final destinations for pilgrims on the Way of St. James
Way of St. James
The Way of St. James or St. James' Way is the pilgrimage route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain, where tradition has it that the remains of the apostle Saint James are buried....
after visiting the shrine of the apostle Saint James the Great
Saint James the Great
James, son of Zebedee was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He was a son of Zebedee and Salome, and brother of John the Apostle...
in Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela
Santiago de Compostela is the capital of the autonomous community of Galicia, Spain.The city's Cathedral is the destination today, as it has been throughout history, of the important 9th century medieval pilgrimage route, the Way of St. James...
.
Muxia is known for its spectacular beaches. It has an active fishing industry.
Muxia is part of the 'Costa da Morte
Costa da Morte
Costa da Morte is part of the Spanish Galician coast. The Costa da Morte extends from the villages of Fisterra and Malpica.The Costa da Morte received its name because there have been so many shipwrecks along its treacherous rocky shore...
' or 'Costa de la Muerte' (i.e., the "Coast of Death"). The Costa Da Morte was given this name because of the large number of shipwrecks along its rocky shore. The Costa Da Morte is one of the three regions of the Costa del Marisco, or "The Seafood Coast."
Muxia is 3 kilometers from a famous Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery that is now used as a church, the Church of San Julián de Moraime
Church of San Julián de Moraime
The Church of San Julián de Moraime is a church in the Moraime area of Muxia, a town in Galicia, Spain. It was a Benedictine monastery, established in the 12th century originally....
. The name of the town, "Muxia", refers to the monks who established this monastery. Another famous church in the area is the "Santuario da Virxe da Barca" which stands on a rocky ridge above the surf.
Pedras de abalar
The Pedras de abalar, Galician for "oscillating stones", are several large stones that can easily be moved by a person or the wind in Galicia, Spain. There are many versions found throughout the world; in English these are called rocking stones, or logan stones.One of these is in Muxia, the "Pedra...
", (i.e., an "oscillating stone"), or rocking stone
Rocking stone
Rocking stones are large stones that are so finely balanced that the application of just a small force causes them to rock. They are found throughout the world. Some are man-made megaliths, but others are natural, often left by glaciers.Logan or rocking stones are known in Scotland sometimes as...
. One of these is in Muxia, the "Pedra da Barca". These are large stones that are balanced on a point, so that they can be moved back and forth easily, or even wiggle in response to the wind. These were used at one time to determine the guilt or innocence of those accused of serious crimes.
There was a serious oil spill along the Muxia part of the coast in 2002, but it has recovered substantially. The oil tanker "Prestige
Prestige oil spill
The Prestige oil spill was an oil spill off the coast of Galicia caused by the sinking of an oil tanker in 2002. The spill polluted thousands of kilometers of coastline and more than one thousand beaches on the Spanish, French and Portuguese coast, as well as causing great harm to the local fishing...
" leaked about 70,000 gallons of oil into the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
in November 2002.
History
In the 5th century and 6th century, Galicia was part of the GermanGermany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Suevi kingdom. The Moors
Moors
The description Moors has referred to several historic and modern populations of the Maghreb region who are predominately of Berber and Arab descent. They came to conquer and rule the Iberian Peninsula for nearly 800 years. At that time they were Muslim, although earlier the people had followed...
replaced the Germans, who were displaced in the 8th or 9th century by the king of Asturias
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
.
The monastery near Muxia was named "Mosteiro de Moraime" to honor the saint, San Xiao de Moraime, and was established in the early 12th century. Not long after, in 1105, it was attacked and destroyed by Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
pirates, and later by Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
. Alfonso Raimúndez, the future King and Emperor
Imperator totius Hispaniae
Imperator totius Hispaniae is a Latin title meaning "Emperor of all Spain". In Spain in the Middle Ages, the title "emperor" was used under a variety of circumstances from the ninth century onwards, but its usage peaked, as a formal and practical title, between 1086 and 1157...
Alfonso VII of León and Castile, had lived in the area when he was younger and was educated by Pedro Froilaz de Traba. Although he was only 14 at the time, Alfonso restored the monastery with a donation in 1119.
The nearby church dedicated to "Nosa Senora da Barca", the "Santuario da Virxe da Barca" was originally a pre-Christian Celtic church and sacred spot. This part of Spain was resistant to conversion to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, and was only converted in the 12th century. The Christians built a hermit
Hermit
A hermit is a person who lives, to some degree, in seclusion from society.In Christianity, the term was originally applied to a Christian who lives the eremitic life out of a religious conviction, namely the Desert Theology of the Old Testament .In the...
age on this location at first, and later the present church in the 17th century.
Legend has it that one of the apostles was trying to Christianize the local inhabitants and was having no luck and was discouraged. The Virgin Mary appeared to the apostle to comfort him. The Celtic stones near the church are now said to be remains of the Virgin Mary's stone boat.
Throughout the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
this region rebelled against the
crown.
Muxia was purchased by King Carlos of Castile
Crown of Castile
The Crown of Castile was a medieval and modern state in the Iberian Peninsula that formed in 1230 as a result of the third and definitive union of the crowns and parliaments of the kingdoms of Castile and León upon the accession of the then King Ferdinand III of Castile to the vacant Leonese throne...
(the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V
Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
) in the 16th century so he could have a more convenient port, and thus improve his kingdom's commerce and connections with England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, where his cousin was Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
.
Muxia was destroyed in the 19th century by Napoleon´s forces.
External links
- pictures from the Prestige oil spill
- A tourist article
- Another tourist article
- Saint James's Catapult: The Life and Times of Diego Gelmírez of Santiago de Compostela, Chapter 9, The Bishop in his Diocese, R. A. Fletcher, Oxford University Press 1984
- encyclopedia entry for Galicia, Columbia University Press
- Historia de Galicia de don Benito Vicetto, tomo I, Ferrol 1865.
- Muxia, the wound, trailer for documentary about impact of the Prestige oil spill on Muxia