Urdax
Title
Urdax
Also Known As
Dourdax, Ordache, Ordax, Oredach, Oredaihs, Oredax, Ourdach, Ourdax, Palacio de Urdax, Real Monasterio de S. Salvador de la Villa de Urdax, Urdachium, Urdacium, Urdatium, Urdax, Urdaxium, Urdazubi
Dates
Founded 10th/11th c.?; Premonstratensian from 1210; dissolved 1836
Dedication
Salvator
Affiliation
Medieval Diocese
Circary
History
Urdax was founded in the 10th/11th century as an Augustinian community running a hospital for pilgrims. From the early 13th century, the house was a member of the Premonstratensian Order. It was the lone Premonstratensian house in the kingdom of Navarre.
As well as the hospital, from the 18th century it ran one of the first chocolate factories in Europe. Urdax suffered two major fires in 1526 and 1793; in the latter, the monastery's library was destroyed.
Urdax was secularised in 1830. The former monastic church became a parish church, while today the cloister houses a museum and art gallery.
As well as the hospital, from the 18th century it ran one of the first chocolate factories in Europe. Urdax suffered two major fires in 1526 and 1793; in the latter, the monastery's library was destroyed.
Urdax was secularised in 1830. The former monastic church became a parish church, while today the cloister houses a museum and art gallery.
Heads of Community
Priors
Sancho, fl. 1211
Abbots
Arnaldus Bernardus, 1230-1235
Pedro I, 1288-1298
Pedro II de Ainhoa, 1360-1386
Domingo d'Ustaritz, 1386-?
Juan I de Echandi, fl. 1437
Pedro III de San Martin, 1474-1482
Pedro IV de Salles-Jussan, ?-1505
Juan II de San Martin, fl. 1513
Juan III de Orbara, fl. 1522
Juan IV de Elizondo, 1550-1553
Sancho, fl. 1211
Abbots
Arnaldus Bernardus, 1230-1235
Pedro I, 1288-1298
Pedro II de Ainhoa, 1360-1386
Domingo d'Ustaritz, 1386-?
Juan I de Echandi, fl. 1437
Pedro III de San Martin, 1474-1482
Pedro IV de Salles-Jussan, ?-1505
Juan II de San Martin, fl. 1513
Juan III de Orbara, fl. 1522
Juan IV de Elizondo, 1550-1553
Status
Abbey, hospital
Archival Sources
Reference
AD, 534-538
Cottineau, II: col. 2160
Hugo, II: 1145-1148
MP, III: 198-201, 637-638
PAS: Distant view
VW, 303
Cottineau, II: col. 2160
Hugo, II: 1145-1148
MP, III: 198-201, 637-638
PAS: Distant view
VW, 303
Bibliography
Duvert, Mikel. “Heurts et malheurs d’une abbaye royale navarro-labourdine : Salbatore d’Urdazubi.” Terres de Navarre 24 (2015): 32–57.
Elso, Martin. “Le royal monastére de San Salvador d’Urdax.” Eusko-Jakintza: Revue d’études basques/Revista de estudios vascos 2 (1947): 421–36. http://hdl.handle.net/10690/115192.
Goñi Gaztambide, José. “El monasterio premonstratense de Urdax en la Edad Media (1182-1520).” Príncipe de Viana 69 (2008): 703–21. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/descarga/articulo/2975051.pdf.
———. “El monasterio premonstratense de Urdax et la Edad Media (1182-1520).” In Homenaje a Fray Justo Pérez de Urbel, O.S.B, edited by Justo Pérez de Urbel, 2:427–54. Studia Silensia 4. Silos: Abadia, 1977.
López de Guereño Sanz, Maria Teresa. “El monasterio premonstratense de San Salvador de Urdax, génesis y evolución histórico-artística.” Príncipe de Viana 57, no. 207 (1996): 19–60.
Zudaire Huarte, Eulogio. “Campomanes, desamortizador del monasterio premostratense de Urdax.” Hispania sacra. Revista española de historia eclesiástica 25 (1972): 37–74.
———. “Ferrerías del Real Monasterio de Urdax.” Cuadernos de Etnología y Etnografía 11, no. 31 (1979): 125–77. https://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/articulo?codigo=144638.
———. Monasterio de Urdax. Second Edition. Navarra 122. Pamplona: Diputación Foral de Navarra, Dirección de Turismo, Bibliotecas y Cultura Popular, 1983.
———. “Monasterio premonstratense de Urdax I.” Analecta Praemonstratensia 48 (1972): 308–26.
———. “Monasterio premonstratense de Urdax II.” Analecta Praemonstratensia 49 (1973): 5–40.
Image Credit
The monastery of San Salvador, 2017. Wikimedia.
Files
Collection
Citation
“Urdax,” A Premonstratensian Atlas, accessed October 16, 2026, https://yvonneseale.org/atlas/items/show/623.