History of the Monastery of San Antonio de Herbón

We are in front of the monastery of San Antonio de Herbón, founded in 1396 by Friar Gonzalo Mariño and Friar Pedro Nemancos at the “Observancia” (observance), a religious movement supporting the Franciscan rule of living free from comfort and priviledges. The land was donated during the years 1396 and 1707 by the canons of La colegiata de Iria and Mr. Fernando Bermúdez de Castro, as long as life at the observance was respected (two houses in 1509).

In its six centuries of history, it has been used for several fuctions such as the retirement life (1393-1700) or school of missions (centres at that time where all religious people had to attend before they could work in American missions, from 1701 to 1835). As a school of missions, the monastery got a lot of prestige.

After being 49 years without friars (1835-1884), between 1835 and 1865, it takes place its expulsion and starts being managed by the Council of Padrón. From 1865 to 1884, it is changed into a minor diocesan seminary run by the archbishopric of Santiago. From 1885 to 1889 the monastery of Herbón takes on its activity as the monastery of  Franciscan PP. From 1891 until today this monastery has taken the role of a Franciscan monastery.