Hermitage of the Holy Christ of the Expiration. Vicariate of Santiago

The Hermitage of the Holy Christ of the Expiration is located on the northern slope of La Estrella Castle, on the outskirts of Montiel and next to the municipal cemetery. Its location allows it to be understood as a transitional space between the town center, the old fortress, and the immediate landscape of the hill, making it easy to integrate a visit into a historical tour of the town.

The building preserves the memory of the former Vicariate of Santiago, one of the most important religious sites in medieval Montiel. After the Christian conquest, this place became linked to the Order of Santiago and functioned as a religious center outside the city walls, with a church, convent buildings, and spaces associated with ecclesiastical administration. In the 15th century, it suffered serious damage during internal conflicts within the Order, although some of its structures were still recognizable at the end of that century. Devotion to Christ of the Expiration, documented since the Early Modern period, gradually transformed the old church of the Order of Santiago into the current sanctuary.

The hermitage features three naves in the late Gothic style, with remains that recall its original medieval layout and subsequent renovations. Inside, highlights include the image of Christ, the presence of Saint James the Apostle as a reminder of the original dedication, the altarpiece of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, and the niche, adorned with plasterwork and polychromy. The building thus combines medieval architecture, modern renovations, and a popular devotion that remains very much alive in Montiel.