Monastery of Santa María de Melón

The first reliable document mentioning the monastery dates from 1159 and refers to Giraldo as the abbot of Melón, who in 1155 had already been documented as the abbot of Bárcena. It is likely that the monastery was originally Benedictine and later sought integration into the Cistercian Order. Following this incorporation, construction and improvement works must have begun on the establishment. The monastery's wealth gradually grew thanks to royal donations, contributions from the local nobility, and direct acquisitions. By 1169, records show the existence of several farms owned by the monastery.

In the 19th century, political changes did not immediately affect the monastery, but in 1835, it was suppressed and secularized. By 1838, the site had passed into private hands, and partial demolition took place to reuse the materials in new constructions. In 1885, part of the church was left in ruins; today, the medieval apse, dating to the 12th and 13th centuries with later modifications, remains preserved and has been transformed into a parish church. The rest of the monastic complex, now in ruins, was rebuilt after the monastery's incorporation into the Cistercian Congregation of Castile.