Cathedral of Santo Domingo de la Calzada

The cathedral houses a chicken coop in which a live rooster and hen live. The animals are protected as an Asset of Cultural Interest by the Government of La Rioja.

The rooster and hen are replaced every two weeks and are there to commemorate the legend of the hanged man. This account that a pilgrim was hanged after being accused of robbery. When his parents went to see the body, they found that he was alive. The pilgrim told them that Santo Domingo de la Calzada had saved his life. The parents told the mayor of the city, who did not believe them and told them: "Your son is as alive as the roasted rooster and hen that I am eating." According to legend, the animals regained their feathers and came back to life at that very moment.

That chickens are kept in a house of God is probably nowhere else outside of "Santo Domingo de la Calzada", but here - in this cathedral on the Camino Frances - it is a tradition that has been preserved to this day. Steffen and Willem have already addressed the legend of the "chicken miracle" in their contributions. I need not repeat that here.

"In commemoration of this legend one finds in the cathedral a peculiar arrangement which is probably not found in any other place of worship. Two white hens, a rooster and a hen, are kept in a large cage. If the rooster crows while one is in the church, it should be a particularly good sign for the way ahead. (...) I take a good look at the cathedral, which partly has the character of a museum. Pilgrims with a pilgrim's pass get admission at half price and as a bonus the pilgrim's stamp."
(Jo Hagen in "Buen Camino. Diary of a bicycle trip on the Way of St. James")