From the flames to rebirth: 350 years since the terrible fire that forced the construction of a new San Juan de la Peña

2025 is a year of joy, resolutions and celebration, but it is also a year that allows us to reflect and commemorate some of the most emblematic events in the history of Aragon. Looking to the present and the future is a good thing, but it is even better not to forget the past so as not to make the same mistakes again.

And, precisely, this year a figure is reached and commemorated related to one of the most important monuments in the past of Aragon. We are referring to the Monastery of San Juan de la Peña, located in 
Huesca, and which surprises many of its visitors when they realize that there is not just one monastery, but two of them.

And the number that is being commemorated in 2025, specifically this Monday, February 24, is the 
350th anniversary of the terrible fire that destroyed the first building of the Royal Monastery of San Juan de la Peña, and forced the monks to erect a new complex. Therefore, in this article, we show you everything you need to know about the fire at this monastery in Huesca, from its origin to the consequences it caused.

THE FIRST MONASTERY OF SAN JUAN

Before discussing the fire, it is necessary to provide some context about this architectural complex. Although the true origins of the monastery are not clear, some historians assume that there was an ancient monastic center dedicated to Saint John the Baptist (this theory is supported by some elements that survive in the structure). On this base, nestled in the hollow of a mountain, the first monastery would begin to be built in the 10th century, currently known as the Old Monastery.

However, the most important construction of this architectural complex did not begin until 1026 on the initiative of Sancho the Great of Pamplona. Later, in 1071, King Sancho Ramírez gave the existing complex to the Cluniac monks, who carried out a reform on the foundation they had acquired.

Under the influence of the monks, the complex that remains today was built, to a greater or lesser extent, all through a range of capitals influenced by Jaca with fantastic animal themes. Through a two-storey structure, its interior highlights include the pre-Romanesque church, the paintings of San Cosme and San Damián from the 12th century, its Romanesque cloister and its Gothic chapel of San Victorián, to name a few elements.

Thanks to all this, the monastery of San Juan de la Peña became the most important monastery in Aragon in the High Middle Ages, becoming part of the Aragonese route of the Camino de Santiago and appearing as a place of legends that linked it to elements such as the Holy Grail. Until a twist of fate turned its history around 180 degrees.

THE MONASTERY FIRE

In the early hours of February 24, 1675, a terrible fire devastated the structure of this monastery in Huesca for three days, damaging the structure and habitability so much that the community decided to build a new monastery on the meadow of San Indalecio.

The fire was the final blow to a series of disagreements that the monastery had been dragging on for centuries, specifically since the second half of the 12th century. In this context, the interruption of donations to the monks, the loss of assets, the multiple lawsuits before numerous authorities, the debts and the deterioration of the buildings stand out. This last factor was, in fact, one of the causes of several fires prior to the great fire of 1675.

However, the Old Monastery managed to “rise” from the ashes and today it is consecrated as a Site of Cultural Interest, as well as a tourist space that captivates all visitors who walk within its walls.

TRIBUTE FOR THE 350 YEARS

As part of this tribute to the 350th anniversary of the fire, the Institute of Altoaragonese Studies (IEA) and the DPH will hold a series of conferences on San Juan de la Peña between February 25 and March 25, in which various specialists from different historical, artistic and archival areas will participate.

Through this event, the IEA wishes to offer an overview of one of the most emblematic and identifying places in Aragon, both for its contribution to the history of art and for its use to construct and disseminate original myths. The cycle will take place every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. (except for the final conference, which will be at 8:00 p.m.), in the IEA auditorium, and will feature figures such as the doctor in Medieval History, Ana Isabel Lapeña, or the director of the Provincial Historical Archive of Huesca, Juan José Generelo.

Despite the tragic “end” experienced by this building, the old monastery of San Juan de la Peña continues to endure as a tourist and historical symbol of Aragon, complementing its brother located in the meadow of San Indalecio. And despite the damage caused by the fires, this monastery in Huesca was able to rise again like a phoenix to be honored on these important dates, and to remind us of the importance of learning from the past to build the future.