El Ballestero
Encyclopedia
El Ballestero is a municipality
in Albacete
, Castile-La Mancha
, Spain
68 km to the west of Albacete.
It is a little town in the middle of La Mancha which grew up around a crossroads on the main road between Munera
and Robledo
.
The population census shows the town to have just over 560 inhabitants, but the actual permanent population is closer to 300 during the week since many people work away from home. In common with many of the small towns in La Mancha
, El Ballestero suffered a large population drain in the middle of the last century. In the 1949 population census, El Ballestero had 1,858 inhabitants but for the next 30 years the population shrank - the peak emigration year being 1964 when over 500 left. The emigrants largely went to the big cities and to the Costas where opportunities for work had sprung up as a result of the beginning of the tourist industry. Over recent years, many of these abandoned homes have been sold to people from Madrid, Valencia and other large cities who have refurbished them as second homes.
The town boasts an attractive 18th century church built in the Renaissance style, 2 bars serving food, a supermarket, a pharmacy, a bread shop, a hair dresser, a public library, a bank, a school and a public Olympic sized swimming pool which is open to the public in July and August. At weekends, a music bar (Spins) opens for those who like dancing. There is a small market on Thursdays.
The main industry is farming (largely lamb, wheat and barley), but there is also a sausage factory producing high quality “embutidos” and hams.
The country round El Ballestero has large numbers of wind turbines, but in spite of this, the rolling hills are really beautiful in May when the whole countryside is covered in wild flowers, In June, the grain is harvested and the countryside takes on the appearance of a prairie. La Mancha is home to the very slow growing Juniperus sabina
which is now fully protected and is beginning to make a come back. The hills are gentle and highly suitable for touring by bicycle. The roads are well maintained and provide excellent opportunities for motorcyclists. There are also many kilometres of unsurfaced public roads which are suitable for off road vehicles.
The town is on the “Ruta de Don Quijote” and nearby tourist attractions include Libisosa (the remains of a Roman Town near Lezuza
), Alcaraz
which is an attractive medieval town, Las Lagunas de Ruidera
and the Sierra de Alcaraz in which are to be found Eagles, Vultures, Great Bustard
, Wild Boar and Lynx. El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cortes is also worth a visit.
In addition to the fictional hero Don Quixote, Hannibal the Carthaginian general who nearly conquered Rome in the 3rd century bc also passed close to the town along a prehistoric trackway that crosses the Iberian Peninsula
running from Gibraltar
to France. This ancient roadway was resurfaced by the Romans; some 800 metres remain in good condition to the north of the town. The "Cañada Real de Los Serranos" which forms part of the medieval network of cattle tracks across Spain and runs between Cordoba and Teruel is also to be found slightly further north and makes an attractive route for long distance walkers, since it is well maintained.
In summer, the temperature during the day is significantly hotter than that to be found in coastal towns such as Benidorm, but it is a dry heat, so that one perspires very little. Even in midsummer, however, being over 3,000 feet (1045 metres) above sea level, the nights are cool making it very attractive to people from places like the Costa Blanca and Murcia during August when the heat on the coast becomes very oppressive. During July and August, the town fills with people from the Coast and Madrid, many of whom have secondary homes here.
In the autumn, the town is also popular with those who enjoy shooting the abundant hares, rabbits and partridges that are to be found in the countryside.
In winter, the temperature can fall well below zero and it snows several times a year, although it tends to melt after a few days.
The main local fiestas are San Lorenzo (Lawrence of Rome) 10 August and San Miguel ( Michael (archangel)
) 29 September.
The nearest hotels are in El Bonillo
and El Cubillo, but bed and breakfast is available. Ask in the bars!
which raged between 1646 and 1652. Once it was over, the survivors decided to burn down the village on health grounds and moved to the surrounding towns. The majority came to El Ballestero and bought with them their "Virgin de la Encarnación", which is a statue of the Virgin Mary slightly smaller than life size, and placed her in the local church. Each Whitsunday, the villagers come together and carry her in triumph over the old track to the site of Villalgordal which is now merely a stony field with a small refurbished chapel in the middle of it overlooking a river. Once they get to Villalgordal, the Virgin is returned to her original home in the chapel and a mass is celebrated. The town then provides a meal for all the participants and spectators. Once this is over, the chapel is locked up and the townsfolk return home.
On the 29th September, during the Fiesta de San Miguel, there is another Mass at Villalgordal and, after another meal, she is carried back to El Ballestero being met at the entrance to the town by floats depicting local life. She is escorted back to the church whilst bonfires are lit in celebration of her return. This is followed by a firework display.
The Virgin spends the winter in the church and returns to her summer Chapel the following year and has done this for around 400 years. Other than the fingers of her right hand, which along with the hem of her dress are touched by believers to bring good luck, she is remarkably well preserved. However, she has had several changes of clothes since she first came to El Ballestero!
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in Albacete
Albacete
Albacete is a city and municipality in southeastern Spain, 258 km southeast of Madrid, the capital of the province of Albacete in the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha. The municipality had a population of c. 169,700 in 2009....
, Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha
Castile-La Mancha is an autonomous community of Spain. Castile-La Mancha is bordered by Castile and León, Madrid, Aragon, Valencia, Murcia, Andalusia, and Extremadura. It is one of the most sparsely populated of Spain's autonomous communities...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
68 km to the west of Albacete.
It is a little town in the middle of La Mancha which grew up around a crossroads on the main road between Munera
Munera
Munera is a town and municipality in the province of Albacete, Spain; part of the autonomous community of Castile-La Mancha....
and Robledo
Robledo, Spain
Robledo is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 461....
.
The population census shows the town to have just over 560 inhabitants, but the actual permanent population is closer to 300 during the week since many people work away from home. In common with many of the small towns in La Mancha
La Mancha
La Mancha is a natural and historical region or greater comarca located on an arid, fertile, elevated plateau of central Spain, south of Madrid, stretching between the Montes de Toledo and the western spurs of the Serrania de Cuenca. It is bounded on the south by the Sierra Morena and on the north...
, El Ballestero suffered a large population drain in the middle of the last century. In the 1949 population census, El Ballestero had 1,858 inhabitants but for the next 30 years the population shrank - the peak emigration year being 1964 when over 500 left. The emigrants largely went to the big cities and to the Costas where opportunities for work had sprung up as a result of the beginning of the tourist industry. Over recent years, many of these abandoned homes have been sold to people from Madrid, Valencia and other large cities who have refurbished them as second homes.
The town boasts an attractive 18th century church built in the Renaissance style, 2 bars serving food, a supermarket, a pharmacy, a bread shop, a hair dresser, a public library, a bank, a school and a public Olympic sized swimming pool which is open to the public in July and August. At weekends, a music bar (Spins) opens for those who like dancing. There is a small market on Thursdays.
The main industry is farming (largely lamb, wheat and barley), but there is also a sausage factory producing high quality “embutidos” and hams.
The country round El Ballestero has large numbers of wind turbines, but in spite of this, the rolling hills are really beautiful in May when the whole countryside is covered in wild flowers, In June, the grain is harvested and the countryside takes on the appearance of a prairie. La Mancha is home to the very slow growing Juniperus sabina
Juniperus sabina
Juniperus sabina is a species of juniper native to the mountains of central and southern Europe and western and central Asia, from Spain east to eastern Siberia, typically growing at altitudes of 1,000-3,300 m....
which is now fully protected and is beginning to make a come back. The hills are gentle and highly suitable for touring by bicycle. The roads are well maintained and provide excellent opportunities for motorcyclists. There are also many kilometres of unsurfaced public roads which are suitable for off road vehicles.
The town is on the “Ruta de Don Quijote” and nearby tourist attractions include Libisosa (the remains of a Roman Town near Lezuza
Lezuza
Lezuza is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 1,732....
), Alcaraz
Alcaraz
Alcaraz is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 1,734. The two bell towers facing each other at the centre of the town are noteworthy....
which is an attractive medieval town, Las Lagunas de Ruidera
Lagunas de Ruidera
The Lagunas de Ruidera are a group of small lakes in the Campo de Montiel, between Albacete Province, and Ciudad Real Province, Spain. Most of the lakes are interconnected and their total water amount may reach 23,06 Hm³, which is considerable by the standards of other lakes in the Iberian...
and the Sierra de Alcaraz in which are to be found Eagles, Vultures, Great Bustard
Great Bustard
The Great Bustard is in the bustard family, the only member of the genus Otis. It breeds in southern and central Europe, where it is the largest species of bird, and across temperate Asia...
, Wild Boar and Lynx. El Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Cortes is also worth a visit.
In addition to the fictional hero Don Quixote, Hannibal the Carthaginian general who nearly conquered Rome in the 3rd century bc also passed close to the town along a prehistoric trackway that crosses the Iberian Peninsula
Iberian Peninsula
The Iberian Peninsula , sometimes called Iberia, is located in the extreme southwest of Europe and includes the modern-day sovereign states of Spain, Portugal and Andorra, as well as the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar...
running from Gibraltar
Gibraltar
Gibraltar is a British overseas territory located on the southern end of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean. A peninsula with an area of , it has a northern border with Andalusia, Spain. The Rock of Gibraltar is the major landmark of the region...
to France. This ancient roadway was resurfaced by the Romans; some 800 metres remain in good condition to the north of the town. The "Cañada Real de Los Serranos" which forms part of the medieval network of cattle tracks across Spain and runs between Cordoba and Teruel is also to be found slightly further north and makes an attractive route for long distance walkers, since it is well maintained.
In summer, the temperature during the day is significantly hotter than that to be found in coastal towns such as Benidorm, but it is a dry heat, so that one perspires very little. Even in midsummer, however, being over 3,000 feet (1045 metres) above sea level, the nights are cool making it very attractive to people from places like the Costa Blanca and Murcia during August when the heat on the coast becomes very oppressive. During July and August, the town fills with people from the Coast and Madrid, many of whom have secondary homes here.
In the autumn, the town is also popular with those who enjoy shooting the abundant hares, rabbits and partridges that are to be found in the countryside.
In winter, the temperature can fall well below zero and it snows several times a year, although it tends to melt after a few days.
The main local fiestas are San Lorenzo (Lawrence of Rome) 10 August and San Miguel ( Michael (archangel)
Michael (archangel)
Michael , Micha'el or Mîkhā'ēl; , Mikhaḗl; or Míchaël; , Mīkhā'īl) is an archangel in Jewish, Christian, and Islamic teachings. Roman Catholics, Anglicans, and Lutherans refer to him as Saint Michael the Archangel and also simply as Saint Michael...
) 29 September.
The nearest hotels are in El Bonillo
El Bonillo
El Bonillo is a municipality in Albacete, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. It has a population of 3,280....
and El Cubillo, but bed and breakfast is available. Ask in the bars!
La Virgin de la Encarnación
There is a charming tradition that takes place on Whitsunday and again on the 29th September (La Fiesta de San Miguel). Apparently in the 17th Century, a severe outbreak of plague occurred in a small village some 14 km to the South of El Ballestero called Villalgordal. This epidemic caused the deaths of the majority of the population; this was possibly the Great Plague of SevilleGreat Plague of Seville
The Great Plague of Seville was a massive outbreak of disease in Spain that killed up to a quarter of Seville's population.Unlike the plague of 1596–1602 which claimed 600,000 to 700,000 lives, or a little under 8% of the population, and initially struck northern and central Spain and Andalusía in...
which raged between 1646 and 1652. Once it was over, the survivors decided to burn down the village on health grounds and moved to the surrounding towns. The majority came to El Ballestero and bought with them their "Virgin de la Encarnación", which is a statue of the Virgin Mary slightly smaller than life size, and placed her in the local church. Each Whitsunday, the villagers come together and carry her in triumph over the old track to the site of Villalgordal which is now merely a stony field with a small refurbished chapel in the middle of it overlooking a river. Once they get to Villalgordal, the Virgin is returned to her original home in the chapel and a mass is celebrated. The town then provides a meal for all the participants and spectators. Once this is over, the chapel is locked up and the townsfolk return home.
On the 29th September, during the Fiesta de San Miguel, there is another Mass at Villalgordal and, after another meal, she is carried back to El Ballestero being met at the entrance to the town by floats depicting local life. She is escorted back to the church whilst bonfires are lit in celebration of her return. This is followed by a firework display.
The Virgin spends the winter in the church and returns to her summer Chapel the following year and has done this for around 400 years. Other than the fingers of her right hand, which along with the hem of her dress are touched by believers to bring good luck, she is remarkably well preserved. However, she has had several changes of clothes since she first came to El Ballestero!