Villanueva de la Jara

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Villanueva de la Jara
municipality
Villanuevadelajaranoche.jpg
Bandera de Villanueva de la Jara.svg
Escudojara.gif
Nickname: 
Spanish: Jareño, jareña
Villanueva de la Jara
Coordinates: 36°28′N6°12′W / 36.467°N 6.200°W / 36.467; -6.200
Country Flag of Spain.svg Spain
Autonomous community Bandera Castilla-La Mancha.svg Castile-La Mancha
Province Cuenca
Comarca La Manchuela
Comarca Manchuela Conquense
Municipality Villanueva de la Jara
FoundedRoman remains.
Grant of villa since 1476
Government
  MayorMercedes Herreras Fogarty (PP)
Area
  Total
156 km2 (60 sq mi)
Population
 (2024-01-01) [1]
  Total
2,340
  Density15.0/km2 (38.8/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)

Villanueva de la Jara, popularly called La Jara, is a town and municipality in the Manchuela Conquense comarca , this in turn is part of the La Manchuela comarca, province of Cuenca, in Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It is known for the cultivation of portobellos and other edible fungi which is the main economic activity of the locality.

Contents

History

Villanueva de la Jara was founded by Alarcón's inhabitants in the 13th or 14th century. It became independent in 1476 thanks to the Catholic Monarchs. The village participated actively in the Castilian War of the Communities. In the War of the Spanish Succession Charles VI, Holy Roman Emperor looted and burned part of the village. In the Spanish Civil War the village had an aerodrome that was used by International Brigades.

Huellas de Teresa de Ávila

The town is part of the Tracks of Saint Teresa of Ávila, route of pilgrimage, tourism, culture and heritage which brings together the 17 cities where Saint Teresa of Ávila left her track in form of foundations [2] the route does not have an established order or limited time as each pilgrim or visitor can do it.

Distance to other cities in Spain

Main sights

Basilica de Nuestra Senora de la Asuncion, inside has a beautiful Rococo chapel Basilicajara.jpg
Basílica de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, inside has a beautiful Rococo chapel
Iglesia de El Carmen VillanuevaJara-ElCarmen.JPG
Iglesia de El Carmen
Town hall Ayuntamientojara.jpg
Town hall
Villa Enriqueta Villa Enriqueta.jpg
Villa Enriqueta

- On one side is the Town Hall, 16th century Renaissance building, this is attributed to the Italian architect Andrea Roddi.

- The old Granary, built in 15th-16th centuries, next to Town Hall and today is a Medical Center.

- Stands the Torre del Reloj (Clock Tower), vestige of the medieval headquarters building of the primitive Town Hall, of three floors.

- Also here is the Posada Massó, Renaissance style, which is one of the best examples of typical Castilian inn, that occupied for years both travelers and outsiders who came to work or to stay in the town. The building and its wooden deck are of the 16th century. Also has portals in brick and keystone marked with hollow rectangular frame.

- In the same square, in front of the Town Hall, is the Villa Enriqueta, a Neo-Mudéjar palatial house of 19th century. The building, which according to the inscription on the facade dates from 1899 and is named as Villa Enriqueta, was commissioned by Jesús Casanova for use as his private residence. And if at first it was a palace, then it became a military hospital during the Spanish Civil War and is now owned by several families whose homes are situated around a central courtyard. Factory made in brick of two colors placed mostly decoratively creating cruciform, floral motifs, etc., decorating the crenellated shot on the cover of lower volume of the building, the arches of the five balconies on the first floor and of the ten wickets paired in the second. Also of brick, the volume that tops the building, rectangular as a covered hipped tower, seems to be a kind of gallery or covered corridor whose walls are pierced by windows arches and under midpoint arches.

- In the square also is a 20th-century Guardia Civil Barracks House.

Other towns within the municipality

References

  1. National Statistics Institute (13 December 2024). "Municipal Register of Spain of 2024".
  2. "The 17 tracks of Teresa of Jesus, joined in a common path - Presentation Tracks of Teresa" (PDF). Alba de Tormes 2014. Santa Teresa de Jesús: 5th centenary of her birth. Town Hall of Alba de Tormes. 2014. pp. 71–75. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.