Ledesma (Salamanca)
| Ledesma municipality | |||
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.jpg) Ledesma - View of the town with Río Tormes
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| coat of arms | Map of Spain | ||
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| Basic data | |||
| Autonomous Community : | Castile and Leon | ||
| Province : | Salamanca | ||
| Comarca : | Tierra de Ledesma | ||
| Coordinates | 41 ° 5 ′ N , 6 ° 0 ′ W | ||
| Height : | 780 msnm | ||
| Area : | 141.22 km² | ||
| Residents : | 1,599 (Jan 1, 2019) | ||
| Population density : | 11.32 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Postal code : | 37100 | ||
| Municipality number ( INE ): | 37170 | ||
| administration | |||
| Website : | Ledesma | ||
Ledesma is a northwestern Spanish town and a municipality ( municipio ) with about 1,599 inhabitants (at January 1, 2019) in the province of Salamanca in the autonomous community of Castile and Leon . The historic town center has been recognized as a cultural asset (Bien de Interés Cultural) in the Conjunto histórico-artístico category since 1975 .
Location and climate
The small town of Ledesma is located above the Río Tormes in the northwest of the province of Salamanca at an altitude of approx. 780 m . The provincial capital Salamanca is about 36 km to the southeast. The climate in winter is often harsh, but in summer it is mostly temperate and warm; the rather sparse rain (approx. 460 mm / year) falls mainly in the winter half-year.
Population development
| year | 1857 | 1900 | 1950 | 2000 | 2018 |
| Residents | 3.121 | 3,399 | 2,806 | 1,954 | 1,636 |
The municipality also includes several already (almost) abandoned hamlets (despoblados). As a result of the mechanization of agriculture and the abandonment of small farms, the population figures in the surrounding villages as well as in the small town itself have fallen to the current low since the middle of the 20th century.
economy
Agriculture, especially cattle breeding, traditionally plays the largest role in the economic life of the small town. In addition, the place functions to this day as a trade, craft and service center for the villages and hamlets in the region. Income from tourism in the form of renting out holiday homes (casas rurales) has increased over the last few decades.
history
The place probably already existed in Celtic times; the Romans called him Bletisa . In the 8th century the place was conquered by Arab-Moorish armies; its reconquest ( reconquista ) took place under King Ramiro II of León in 939. The subsequent repopulation ( repoblación ) by Christians from the north of the Iberian Peninsula and from other parts of Europe was repeatedly interrupted by Moorish counter-attacks in the 10th century. Of Ferdinand II. The place was because of its proximity to the rival kingdom of Portugal its own municipal law (in 1161 fuero ); also a castle (castillo) and a city wall (muralla) were built. Various religious orders built a total of 7 churches. At the end of the 13th century, Ledesma belonged to the property of the Infante Don Pedro, who died here in 1283 at the age of 23; all of his possessions went to his son Sancho. After his death (1312) they reverted to the crown. In 1462, Henry IV awarded the title of Count of Ledesma, which still exists today, to his long-time advisor and favorite Beltrán de la Cueva , who fell out of favor a year later, but largely retained his title. In the 15th and 16th centuries the city experienced its heyday.
Attractions
- The castle that once dominated the place dates from the 12th century; however, it was constantly being redesigned. Today the castle gate and the castle courtyard are still impressive. A headless "bull" made of granite ( verraco ) stands in the area of the former castle grounds . Below the castle rock cellars ( bodegas ) and powder magazines (polvorines) have been carved into the rock.
- The most important church in the city is the single-nave Iglesia de Santa María la Mayor , which was rebuilt in the 15th century in Gothic style on the old site , the apse of which was redesigned in the 18th century in the style of classicism . In the nave (nave) , the tomb of the Infante Don Sancho is.
- The Iglesia de San Miguel , with only one bell gable (espadaña) , shows its Romanesque origins despite later modifications . The portal dates from 1784; the main altar dates from 1767.
- The Iglesia de Santa Elena , located outside the city wall, is a late Romanesque building with an apse raised by several steps. The church houses a statue of St. Bartholomew from the 16th and an imposing altarpiece (retablo) from the 18th century.
- The town hall is in a city palace with a beautiful inner courtyard from the 16th / 17th century. Century housed. Other palacios enrich the townscape.
- The bullring (Plaza de Toros) , built in 1914/15, is located in the open area south of the old town .
literature
- E. Azofra: Ledesma. Jardines, sitios y conjuntos históricos de la provincia de Salamanca. Diputación de Salamanca 2002, pp. 95-109. ISBN 978-84-7797-191-7 .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero . Population statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (population update).
- ↑ Ledesma - climate tables
- ↑ Ledesma - population development
- ↑ Ledesma - History
- ↑ Ledesma - Castillo
- ↑ Ledesma - Churches
- ↑ Ledesma - Palacios