Villoria de Órbigo
Title
Villoria de Órbigo
Also Known As
Villa Aurea
Dates
Founded 1243; moved 1665; returned 1774; dissolved 2015; reestablished 2018
Dedication
Mary
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Villoria de Órbigo was founded in 1243 by Rodrigo Fernández de Valduerna and Teresa Froilaz, lord and lady of Astorga. It enjoyed a period of prosperity in the 14th and 15th centuries.
From 1511, it was a house of Premonstratensian women. The sisters came from Santa Sofia de Toro. Following a major fire, between 1665 and 1774 the community was based in Astorga. The monastery was badly damaged by another fire in the 1980s.
In 2015, the last sisters left Villoria de Órbigo. Since 2018, some Premonstratensian canons have occupied the site.
From 1511, it was a house of Premonstratensian women. The sisters came from Santa Sofia de Toro. Following a major fire, between 1665 and 1774 the community was based in Astorga. The monastery was badly damaged by another fire in the 1980s.
In 2015, the last sisters left Villoria de Órbigo. Since 2018, some Premonstratensian canons have occupied the site.
Heads of Community
Abbots
Domingo, fl. 1282
Martin, fl. 1415
Bartolomé, fl. 1428
Gonzalo, fl. 1459
Juan I de Carrizo, fl. 1473
Juan II de Cornejo, ?-1505
Abbesses
Mencia Duque de Colmenares, 1511-1522
Constancia Maldonado, 1522-1570
Domingo, fl. 1282
Martin, fl. 1415
Bartolomé, fl. 1428
Gonzalo, fl. 1459
Juan I de Carrizo, fl. 1473
Juan II de Cornejo, ?-1505
Abbesses
Mencia Duque de Colmenares, 1511-1522
Constancia Maldonado, 1522-1570
Status
Abbey; women's community
Archival Sources
Nancy, Bibliothèque Stanislas
MS 993, fols. 35r-36v
MS 993, fols. 35r-36v
Reference
Bibliography
Asociación de amigos del monasterio de Villoria de Órbigo. “Monasterio premonstratense de Santa María de la Asunción,” 2021. https://www.amigosdelmonasteriovilloria.es/.
Backmund, Norbert. “Monasterio Real de Sta. Maria de Villoria de Órbigo.” Pro Nostris. Ephemerides Trimestres Commissionis Norbertinae 23 (1958): 69–75.
Cavero Domínguez, Gregoria. Villoria de Órbigo y los Premonstratenses : 900 años de la Fundación de Norberto de Xanten. León: Universidad de León, 2021.
Fernández del Pozo, José María. “Un monasterio leones desconocido: Santa Maria de Villoria de Órbigo.” Tierras de León 25 (1985): 89–100.
Fr. Jean-Baptiste. “Les deux abbayes feminines d’Espagne, Toro et Villoria.” In Actes officiels du 17e colloque du Centre d’Études et de Recherches Prémontrées, Prieuré du Bearn-Valmont, 17–19. C.E.R.P., 1991.
Quintana Prieto, Augusto. El Real Monasterio de Santa María de Villoria. Zamora: Montecasino, 2003.
Image Credit
Monastery of Villoria de Órbigo, 2008. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Villoria de Órbigo,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/291.
Geolocation
Item Relations
| This Item | DependentOn | Item: Aguilar de Campoo |