Miranda del Castañar explained

Official Name:Miranda del Castañar
Settlement Type:Municipality
Flag Size:150
Coordinates:40.4842°N -5.9972°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Spain
Subdivision Type1:Autonomous community
Subdivision Name1:Castile and León
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Salamanca
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Sierra de Francia
Leader Party:People's Party
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Encarnacion Torija Gutiérrez
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:21
Elevation M:649
Population Density Km2:auto
Timezone:CET
Utc Offset:+1
Timezone Dst:CEST
Utc Offset Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postal code
Postal Code:37660

Miranda del Castañar is a municipality located in the province of Salamanca, Castile and León, Spain. As of 2016 the municipality has a population of 426 inhabitants.[2] The town of Miranda del Castañar is labeled "Historic-Artistic Grouping" for being part of the Spanish national system of heritage listing. The town is set on a mountainside and is encircled by a medieval wall with four gates. To the south and the east stand the Gates of Saint Postigo and Saint Genesius respectively. To the west stands the Gate of Nuestra Señora de la Cuesta (Our Lady of the slope), the town's patron saint whose festivity is celebrated on either 8 or 9 September. Finally, the Town Gate stands in the north. The most noteworthy monument is the Castle of Miranda del Castañar.

The current castle was rebuilt in the early 14th century over the remains of an older castle dating from the 12th. There is a coat of arms belonging to the House of Zuñiga engraved in the westernmost part of the castle. Some parts well preserved are the castle wall, a parapet walk, and some footbridges. The Castle is eyewitness to a past splendor time. The town was founded in the 12th century by the Sovereign Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and was reinforced by the repopulating carried out by the king Alfonso IX of León in the 13th century. Currently, the castle belongs to the town council, but it first belonged to the Duchess of Alba, who also owns the title of Countess of Miranda del Castañar and donated the castle to the town council in 1954.

Heritage

Demography

The depopulation of the town is causing concern. One of the top priorities for the town council is to keep locals in the town and to attract new people and new workers.

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Municipio:Miranda del Castañar. www.lasalina.es. 2017-11-07.
  2. Web site: Salamanca: Población por municipios y sexo. www.ine.es. es. 2017-11-07.