Located in the old town of Leon is the Church of Our Lady of the Market, a Romanesque-style temple of enormous antiquity that dates back to the 11th century. It is also known as St. Mary of the French Way because it is located in the French Way of St. James.
Like many ancient temples, the church underwent a long series of renovations, restorations and additions that changed its original Romanesque architectural design, creating an interesting amalgamation of Renaissance, Baroque and Gothic details.
The architectural design is conventional, with an irregular basilical plan made up of three naves without a transept and with a growing widening from the foot to the head.
A characteristic detail is its main altarpiece, dating from the 18th century. There, one can admire the spectacular sculpture of the Virgin of the Way, dating from the 15th century, in addition to two side altars—the work of José Suarez Gavilanes and dedicated to the honour of St. Francis Xavier and Eloy and St. Joseph.
Also very notable are its beautiful dressing room, the work of the famous artist Manuel de la Lastra Alvear and decorated with beautiful paintings from 1761, and a splendid Romanesque-style grille from the 12th century.
Due to its spectacular heritage and artistic value, the Church of Our Lady of the Market was declared a Historical-Artistic Monument of Spain in 1973. It is one of the temples that receives a significant number of visits from the faithful and is a mandatory stop for academics and lovers of the fine arts.
What to see in Leon