| Official Name: | Salvacañete |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: |  Spain |
| Subdivision Type1: | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision Type2: | Province |
| Subdivision Name2: | Cuenca |
| Pushpin Map: | Spain#Spain Castilla-La Mancha |
| Pushpin Relief: | 1 |
| Subdivision Name3: | Salvacañete |
| Area Total Km2: | 120 |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Coordinates: | 40.1°N -31°W |
Salvacañete (pronounced as /es/) is a Spanish municipality located in the province of Cuenca, within the autonomous community of Castilla-La Mancha. According to the 2023 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 300 inhabitants. On January 12, 2021, a minimum temperature of -16.2C was registered.[1]
The name "Salvacañete" has a historical origin linked to a significant event. As mentioned by José Julián Mayordomo regarding the Virgin of La Zarza, the patroness of Cañete:
Salvacañete is part of the Serranía Baja, located 87 kilometers (54 miles) from Cuenca. The municipality is traversed by the national highway N-420 between kilometers 514 and 525, as well as local roads leading to Alcalá de la Vega and Toril y Masegoso.
The landscape of the municipality is shaped by the mountains of the Serranía de Cuenca and the Cabriel river, which runs from north to south, accompanied by numerous streams. The most prominent mountains include the Peña del Ocejón at the boundary with the province of Teruel, the Cruz de los Tres Reinos at the juncture of the provinces of Teruel, Valencia, and Cuenca, and the Modorro. The altitude in the area ranges from 1,629 meters (5344 feet) at Peña del Ocejón in the north to 1,150 meters (3772 feet) along the Cabriel River in the south, with the town itself situated at 1,209 meters (3966 feet) above sea level.
| Northwest: Zafrilla and Albarracín (Teruel) | North: Toril y Masegoso (Teruel) | Northeast: Alobras (Teruel) and Veguillas de la Sierra (Teruel) | |
| West: Tejadillos | East: Castielfabib (Valencia) and Vallanca (Valencia) | ||
| Southwest: Salinas del Manzano | South: Alcalá de la Vega | Southeast: Algarra |
While it is plausible that ancient pre-Roman civilizations (such as the Lusones, Beribraces, or Olcades) established settlements or passed through Salvacañete, the first confirmed human presence in the area dates back to Roman times. The most significant find is the so-called "Treasure," publicly revealed in 1934, consisting of fourteen Roman denarii, with the most recent dated between 100-95 BCE, two drachmas from Arse, and sixty-three Iberian denarii. The treasure's concealment is estimated to have occurred around 95 BCE, during the Iberian uprising (98-94 BCE). Part of this archaeological find is exhibited in the Provincial Historical Museum. Additionally, near the shrine of the local patroness, the Virgin of Valdeoña, there are remnants of a Roman villa with a mosaic featuring geometric designs.
The historical record next references Salvacañete in the Middle Ages. According to Trifón Muñoz Soliva, during El Cid Campeador's numerous campaigns against Saracen forces on his way through Aragon to Valencia, he forged an alliance with Abu Mernan Huzeil de Aben Razin. Believing it most prudent to advance from Toledo through these Cuenca lands, El Cid constructed a fortress in La Frontera, then passed through Beteta and Molina, then Cañete and Castielfabib, which he sought to rebuild, before reaching Valencia to besiege the city. The most logical route between these two towns would have passed through what is now Salvacañete.
Documents confirm that Salvacañete was regarded as a hamlet of Moya during the 15th century, but with the creation of the Marquesado de Moya in 1475, it became a recognized town and part of the marquisate:
"The Marquesado de Moya included the following towns: Henarejos, Cardenete, Carboneras, San Martín de Boniches, Villar del Humo, Pajaroncillo, Campillos Sierra, Huerta y Laguna Marquesado, Zafrilla, Tejadillos, Salinas, Salvacañete, Boniches, Alcalá de la Vega, El Cubillo, Algarra, Garcimolina, Talayuelas, Aliaguilla, Narboneta, Garaballa, Campillos de Paravientos, Santa Cruz de Moya, Campalbo, Casas de Pedro Alonso, Santo Domingo and los Huertos."
Salvacañete did not gain further historical significance until the 19th century, during the War of Independence against Napoleonic France, where local resistance, including a guerrilla band led by Tío Pedro, engaged in frequent surprise attacks against the French forces. After the war, the region became a hideout for former guerrillas who turned to banditry, with the most notorious group being led by "El Viejo," which terrorized the Sierra de Teruel, the Maestrazgo, and the Serranía de Cuenca.
In 1822, Salvacañete was definitively assigned to the corregimiento or judicial district of Cañete. During the Carlist Wars, it was the site of several significant military maneuvers. By the mid-19th century, the town had a recorded population of 994 inhabitants. The Diccionario geográfico-estadístico-histórico de España y sus posesiones de Ultramar by Pascual Madoz provides the following description of Salvacañete:
After these tumultuous times, the town experienced relative stability, although economic activities like agriculture, livestock farming, and rural craftsmanship remained modest. In recent decades, Salvacañete, like many rural areas in Spain, has faced challenges related to population decline and economic shifts, leading to changes in its traditional way of life.
According to the 2023 census (INE), Salvacañete has a population of 300 inhabitants.
Following the migration trends of the 1960s and 1970s, many inhabitants left Salvacañete to move to large cities. The three main destinations were Barcelona, Madrid, and Valencia, along with their metropolitan areas.
The habitat is rural, consisting of a set of forms and activities linked to country life. The town’s layout is well-suited for defense. It shares the structure common to many Castilian towns: a central round square in the middle of the town, houses arranged in a closed and contiguous manner, as well as narrow streets.
The economy of Salvacañete has historically revolved around agriculture, with wheat, barley, and oats being the main crops. Livestock farming, particularly sheep and cattle, has also been a significant part of the local economy.
Recently, the economy is more diversified, with a growing focus on rural tourism, leveraging the town's historical heritage and natural beauty.