Villafranca del Bierzo
| Villafranca del Bierzo municipality | |||
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| coat of arms | Map of Spain | ||
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| Basic data | |||
| Autonomous Community : |
 Castile and León
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| Province : | Leon | ||
| Comarca : |
 El Bierzo
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| Coordinates | 42 ° 36 ′ N , 6 ° 49 ′ W | ||
| Height : | 505 msnm | ||
| Area : | 177.37 km² | ||
| Residents : | 2,899 (Jan 1, 2019) | ||
| Population density : | 16.34 inhabitants / km² | ||
| Municipality number ( INE ): | 24209 | ||
| administration | |||
| Website : | www.villafrancadelbierzo.org | ||
Villafranca del Bierzo is a town in the province of León in the autonomous community of Castile and León . It is located in the Comarca El Bierzo , the westernmost part of the province.
Geographical location and climate
Villafranca is located at the foot of the Sierra d'Ancares at the confluence of the Rio Burbia and Valcarce rivers .
As everywhere in Bierzo, Villafranca has a microclimate that results from the meeting of the north-western maritime climate of Galicia and Asturias with the continental climate of the northern Meseta . This means that when there is plenty of sun there is enough rain for agriculture, while the mountain ranges keep cold winds away. It forms the basis for excellent agricultural products, especially fruit, vegetables and wine. Villafranca is in the Bierzo appellation .
history
Villafranca played an important role as a stage between two high mountain ranges for pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago . Since 1600 the sick and weak received the same indulgence in holy years after passing through the north portal of the Iglesia de Santiago as at the tomb of St. James . The reason for this was the further climbs on the Galician passes O Cebreiro , Alto San Roque and the Alto do Poio . At times the city had seven pilgrim hostels. In 1822/1823 Villafranca was the administrative seat of the province of El Bierzo.
Personalities
- Enrique Gil y Carrasco , romantic poet and diplomat, was born in Villafranca and created a literary monument to Bierzo with his chivalric novel The Lord of Bembibre
- Cristóbal Halffter , contemporary Spanish composer, Halffter is an honorary citizen of Villafranca and lives and works - if not in Madrid - in the palace of the Marquis of Villafranca
- Lucas Ruiz de Ribayaz, priest of the Church of Villafranca del Bierzo and 1677 editor of guitar and harp music
Web links
Jakobskirche seen from the Way of St. James
Jacob's Church Villafranca with the Gate of Mercy in the side front
The former Jesuit convent of San Nicolas
Birth house of the poet Gil y Carrasco, 15 Calle del Agua
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).
