Arcos de Jalón

Arcos de Jalón municipality
	Arcos de Jalón - Castle ( castillo )
Basic data
Autonomous Community :	Castile and León
Province :	Soria
Comarca :	Arcos de Jalon
Coordinates	41 ° 13 ′ N , 2 ° 16 ′ W Coordinates: 41 ° 13 ′ N , 2 ° 16 ′ W
Height :	831 msnm
Area :	441.54 km²
Residents :	1,469 (Jan 1, 2019)
Population density :	3.33 inhabitants / km²
Postal code :	42250
Municipality number ( INE ):	42025
administration
Website :	Arcos de Jalón

Arcos de Jalón refers to a place and a municipality ( municipio ) consisting of the main town and several incorporated villages and hamlets (pedanías) with 1,469 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2019) in the southeast of the province of Soria in the autonomous community of Castile-León . The Catholic parish belongs to the Diocese of Osma-Soria .

Location and climate

The municipality of Arcos de Jalón is located in the plateau interspersed with rocks and hills in the southeast of the province of Soria at an altitude of approx. 820 to 1250 m . The distance to the northwestern provincial capital Soria is approx. 95 km (driving distance). The small but historically significant town of Medinaceli is only about 20 km to the south-west. The climate is temperate to warm; Rain (approx. 440 mm / year) falls over the year.

Population development

year	1857	1900	1950	2000	2017
Residents	679	1,303	2,947	1,856	1,486

The increasing mechanization of agriculture as well as the abandonment of small farms and the resulting loss of jobs would have led to an even more significant decline in the population in the second half of the 20th century, if not about a dozen villages and hamlets in the area in 1967 ( Aguilar de Montuenga, Chaorna, Iruecha, Jubera, Judes, Layna, Montuenga de Soria, Sagides, Somaén and Velilla de Medinaceli) would have been incorporated. Three other former places (Lomeda, Sierra de Muedo and Valladares) have now been completely abandoned (despoblados) ; the incorporation of Utrilla took place in 1970.

economy

For centuries, the villages of the municipality lived exclusively from growing grain ( barley and wheat ) and vegetables ( beans , onions , cabbage, etc.), which was mainly run for self-sufficiency ; livestock farming ( sheep , goats , chickens ) also took place to a small extent. The small town of Arcos served as a mercantile, craft and cultural center. Today agriculture still plays the most important role, but there is also marginal income from tourism (rental of holiday homes).

history

After the Arab-Moorish conquest , large areas in the north of the Iberian Peninsula were depopulated . In the 10th century began under the Castilian Count Gonzalo Téllez in the second half of the 11th century under Alfonso VI. Complete reconquest ( reconquista ) of Old Castile , which culminated in the capture of the city of Toledo, about 250 kilometers to the southwest (1085). During this time, Arcos was repopulated ( repoblación ) by settlers from the north .

Attractions

Castillo de Arcos

Arcos de Jalón

The remains of the 14th century castle (castillo) of Arcos rise above a Moorish fortress. Only parts of the approx. 16 m high and - with the exception of the corner stones - stone walled former keep ( torre del homenaje ) and the surrounding wall are preserved. The castle was temporarily owned by Fernán Gómez de Albornoz, a supporter of Henry of Trastamara , the opponent of Peter the Cruel . Fernán Gómez de Albornoz's coat of arms can still be seen above the entrance to the keep. Since 1440 the castle has been in the hands of the counts or dukes of Medinaceli , who at some point had no use for the old castle walls.

NS de la Asunción

The single-nave church (Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción) , built in the 16th century in place of a Romanesque predecessor, was completely redesigned two centuries later - the building features Gothic , Renaissance and Baroque elements . The completely unadorned west facade is elevated by a two-storey bell gable (espadaña) with a rear bell . The entrance to the church is - completely unusual for the region - on the north side; directly next to it, the Capilla del Cristo de la Buena Muerte was built in the 17th century . The polygonally broken apse is the oldest surviving component; however, it is obscured by an altarpiece consecrated to the Assumption of Mary with Solomonic columns entwined with wine. In addition, the church houses five other baroque altars and a baptismal font from the 16th century. Also worth seeing is a figure of Christ lying in a glass coffin (Cristo de la Buena Muerte) in the chapel of the same name - such figures can be found in many Spanish churches; During Holy Week ( Semana Santa ) and the Good Friday procession , the coffin is carried through the streets of the respective town.

Chaorna

The townscape is one of the most beautiful in the province of Soria; in the streets there are houses made of quarry stone.

Montuenga

The village, which still has around 100 inhabitants, is overlooked by the ruins of a badly ruined keep.

Somaén

In the village, which still has around 40 inhabitants, there is a medieval castle that takes advantage of the natural rock formation.

Utrilla

The village, which was incorporated in 1967, only has about 80 inhabitants. Surprisingly well preserved, towers over the 15th and 16th centuries. Century church built the place.