Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Recent Stories
All Stories Video Podcast
Most Recent Stories
View All Stories »
You could probably take some of that stuff out.
Dear Atlas: How Do I Pack Light for a Long Trip?
Ripples in the land are remnants of the field walls that once held rows of native sugarcane and sweet potatoes.
Unearthing the Mysteries of Hawai'i's Ancient Agriculture
Petrified Forest National Park.
Beware the Legends Behind These National Park Souvenirs
For Aguilar-Carrasco, nature is a powerful reminder of the interconnectedness of all life.
How Can National Parks Be Made Accessible to All? AO Wants to Know.

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All Spain Priaranza del Bierzo Saint Genadio Cave
AO Edited

Saint Genadio Cave

The cave where Saint Genadio meditated and played chess.

Priaranza del Bierzo, Spain

Added By
Luis Morato
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Entrance of the cave.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
panoramic view into the cave.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Wood sculpture of St. Genadio into the cave.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
St. Genadio and caliphate style paintings in the church of Santiago de Peñalba.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Mozarabic gate in the church of Peñalba de Santiago.   Luis Morato / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Saint Genadio was a bishop during the Early Middle Ages. He resigned his high clerical status in 920 CE to meditate in a cave in El Valle del Silencio (Silent valley) in the Mountains of León.

Located near the Mozarabic monastery in Peñalba de Santiago, he practiced a new and unknown game that helped him meditate. Today, somewhere in that area are still four pieces of carved goat bones that he used for the game derived from the Persian "Shatranj," known today as Chess.

In Spain toward the end of the 9th-century, a large part of the country was occupied by the Islamic Emirate of Córdoba. In the north was the Christian Kingdom of Asturias, which expanded through Muslim territory. It eventually became known as the Kingdom of León in 910.

This depopulated area was settled by the Mozarabic (Christian communities who lived in the Arabic zone), who brought with them several customs from the Emirate. Evidence of this can be seen in the Mozarabic style of the church of St. James in Peñalba with its umbrella dome and caliphate style paintings.

At the monastery, Saint Genadio spent the last 16 years of his life and played chess. It was introduced here by the Mozarabic people and subsequently to the rest of Europe. Saint Genadio once mediated for hours in a cave near "Valle del Silencio ("Valley of the Silence") over the Oza River.

The silence and the game of chess helped him meditate. He encouraged his disciples to practice chess in order "to stay near to God." Four pieces, the oldest in Europe, were considered for a long time as a miraculous talisman and a legend. The pieces carved of goat bone consisted of two rooks, a pawn, and a bishop were first discovered in 1923 only to be later lost. They were found again in 1992 and are now jealously guarded in an unknown church in the region. 

Related Tags

Caves Hermitage History & Culture Chess Saints Ecosystems

Know Before You Go

From the town of Ponferrada by the road LE-158/4 to Peñalba de Santiago (13.2 miles). Park and continue by walking along a path around two miles. In the village is the Mozarabic church of St. James.

Community Contributors

Added By

Luis Morato

Published

April 27, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genadio_de_Astorga
  • https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iglesia_de_Santiago_de_Pe%C3%B1alba
  • https://www.zendalibros.com/las-piezas-de-ajedrez-de-san-genadio-i/
  • https://elpais.com/deportes/2018/07/17/la_bitacora_de_leontxo/1531825559_525847.html
Saint Genadio Cave
Priaranza del Bierzo, 24415
Spain
42.426607, -6.551797
Visit Website

Nearby Places

La Fábrica de Luz (Light factory-Energy Museum)

Ponferrada, Spain

miles away

Las Médulas

Yeres, Spain

miles away

Palacio Episcopal

Astorga, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 37

Nearby Places

La Fábrica de Luz (Light factory-Energy Museum)

Ponferrada, Spain

miles away

Las Médulas

Yeres, Spain

miles away

Palacio Episcopal

Astorga, Spain

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Spain

Spain

Europe

Places 757
Stories 37

Related Places

  • Inside one of the stone dwellings.

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Corviano

    This archaeological site built into a tuff outcrop is filled with rock dwellings, the ruins of a medieval castle, and a necropolis.

  • Vie Cave

    Sorano, Italy

    Vie Cave

    This network of roads is one of the most unique Etruscan creations ever discovered.

  • Grutas del Palacio

    Flores, Uruguay

    Grutas del Palacio

    This wonderful rock formation constitutes the first geopark in Uruguay.

  • Tour these tunnels beneath Lincoln, Nebraska.

    Lincoln, Nebraska

    Robber's Cave

    Underneath downtown Lincoln resides a network of caves that was also the city's first brewery.

  • The “Cave Hotel” of Yoshimi.

    Yoshimi, Japan

    Gankutsu Hotel

    Chiseled out of a sandstone cliff, one farmer's unfinished art project lies in ruins.

  • Cave of Saint Ignatius

    Manresa, Spain

    Cave of Saint Ignatius

    The grotto where Saint Ignatius of Loyola lived as a hermit for nearly a year.

  • Bunjil’s Shelter

    Black Range, Australia

    Bunjil's Shelter

    This ancient rock shelter features cave art and is one of the most culturally important sites in the country.

  • View from the 4th cell.

    Provadia, Bulgaria

    Rock Monastery of Shashkunite

    Crossing a suspension bridge above a forest is the only way to reach this 12th-century monastery.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.