OUR EMPTY SPAIN
Berrueco
THE VILLAGE
Nestled on the slope of the Sierra de Valdelacasa, Berrueco has a privileged location and from it you can see the widest panoramic view of the Gallocanta Lagoon.
The appearance of the urban nucleus of Berrueco would be linked to the construction of the castle itself, founded in the Middle Ages, as a strategic point of defense around the castle.
Here we find the general urbanism pattern that most medieval villages followed. The group of most important constructions would mark the center of the urban nucleus: medieval church of Santa Ana (13th century), house of Infanzón, house of the executioner, house of the priest ... and around this we would find a second phase that would include buildings communal like the furnace, the forge ... Thirdly, there would be the houses of the villagers, who the more humble the farther from the center they would be.
Over the years, the constructions would move away from the core, following the slope, until what would be known as the "Lower neighborhood" in which the most recent constructions are found, as opposed to the "upper neighborhood", is formed.
WHAT TO SEE AND WHAT TO DO
HERITAGE
Parish church
Its facade combines red and white stone, it is a baroque temple, built in the 18th century, whose tower has Mudejar details. The bichromy of the stone, obtained from the slope itself, is also observed on the walls of the houses.
Celtiberian Village "El Castellar"
Small Celtiberian fortified town sitting on a hill, which was occupied between the 2nd and 1st centuries BC.
The walled enclosure is made up of two parallel lines of huge stone ashlars, which confirm it as one of the most spectacular defensive ensembles in Celtiberia.
Oriented towards the lagoon, in the center of the west wall, we find the gate, protected by a complex system of zigzag passage and, as soon as we enter the town, a small area with sidewalks and drains, which gives a relatively urban aspect to this point access.
After an archaeological excavation carried out at the end of the 20th century, we know that the town is configured around a central street that crosses the space from north to south, endowed with a great width, which facilitates access to the narrow facades of the households. The total number of rooms / households in the settlement can be calculated between 20-28.
The walls of the houses were built of adobe and mud brick, seated on small stone plinths. The roof was very simple, usually branches covered with mud, supported on the walls and vertical central posts. Most of the floors were rammed earth, although in some houses we can find stone slabs.
Acered - Aldehuela de Liestos - Anento - Atea - Badules - Balconchán - Berrueco - Cerveruela - Cubel - Cuerlas (Las) - Daroca - Fombuena - Gallocanta - Herrera de los Navarros - Langa del Castillo - Lechón - Luesma - Mainar - Manchones - Murero - Nombrevilla - Orcajo - Retascón - Romanos - Santed - Torralba de los Frailes - Torralbilla - Used - Val de San Martín - Valdehorna - Villadoz - Villanueva de Jiloca - Villar de los Navarros - Villarreal de Huerva - Villarroya del Campo