St. Olav's Hermitage

The Hermitage of San Olav is a contemporary hermitage located in the Valle de los Lobos, in Covarrubias (Burgos), conceived as a religious and exhibition space linked to the figure of St. Olav and the historical memory of Princess Kristina of Norway. The official tourist and reference sources describe it as the first hermitage built in Spain in the 21st century. It is a modern work built in steel, metal and wood, with a unique architecture designed to integrate into the landscape and also to function as a place of cultural interpretation. Inside, it incorporates a museum dedicated to the life of Saint Olav -warrior, king and saint- and to the historical episode that links Norway with Covarrubias. It is not a medieval temple, but a recent heritage resource associated with cultural tourism in the municipality. Its location, a short distance from the historic center, reinforces the heritage tour of Covarrubias and complements other landmarks of the local historical complex, especially the former collegiate church of San Cosme and San Damián, where the memory of Princess Kristina is preserved. The chapel was promoted from an architectural competition promoted locally and in Norway, and has established itself as a unique element of the tourist heritage of Covarrubias for its symbolism, its design and its relationship with the shared history between Burgos and Norway.