Sacred Art Museum of the Basilica of Nuestra Señora de la Encina

The Sacred Art Museum of the Basilica of La Encina in Ponferrada, scheduled to open in the spring of 2026, is conceived as one of the most prominent cultural and tourist landmarks in the city's offering. Its creation responds to the need to showcase the extraordinary religious heritage wealth of the municipality, offering a modern, accessible space of high interpretive quality that allows visitors to understand the historical, artistic, and spiritual depth of El Bierzo. The museum gathers pieces of enormous relevance from the basilica itself and from various parishes in the municipality, creating a coherent journey that will showcase the evolution of sacred art in Ponferrada and its surroundings. Within this narrative, the Tebaida Berciana —one of the most exceptional monastic and landscape ensembles in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula— will hold a prominent place. Its eremitic tradition and the survival of medieval temples and monasteries help explain the importance of the territory in the formation of cultural and religious identities that still define the region today.

The project represents a new attraction for visitors, enriching Ponferrada's tourist offering with a unique resource that dialogues with the historic centre, the Camino de Santiago, and the existing museum network. The inclusion of a visit to the basilica tower as part of the museum route adds a differentiating experiential element: from the top, visitors will be able to contemplate a privileged panorama of the city, understanding its urban evolution and its relationship with the Bercian landscape. With this museum, Ponferrada strengthens its commitment to sustainable cultural tourism, capable of diversifying flows, de-seasonalising demand, and generating a positive impact on the community. In short, it is a strategic project that combines heritage preservation, interpretive innovation, and a forward-looking tourist vision.

INFORMATION 

📍 Location and contact

• Address: Plaza de la Encina s/n 
• Telephone: 987 414 141