Monastery of Santa María de Belmonte

From 1151 onwards, the monastery enjoyed the protection of Alfonso VII of León, who, in 1155, placed it under the authority of Santa María de Carracedo (León). During the second half of the 12th century, the monastery’s dependencies were built, and the church was consecrated in 1187. In 1203, Carracedo joined the Cistercian Order, and shortly thereafter, the monastery of Lapedo also became Cistercian, changing its name to Belmonte. In 1560, it was incorporated into the Cistercian Congregation of Castile. The monastery was dissolved following the confiscation, becoming public property, and the site was used as a quarry for other constructions, which led to its near-complete disappearance. In the 19th century, the Baroque altarpiece of the church was moved to the parish church of San Martín de Calleras. Some remains of the monastery are still preserved at the site.