Les Alqueries
Encyclopedia
Les Alqueries is a town in eastern Spain
, in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia.
Economy is based on agriculture, specializing in growing oranges. It became an independent commune from Vila-real
in 1985.
era. Les Alqueries was formerly divided into three smaller villages called Bellaguarda, Bonastre and Bonretorn. Prior to 1609 most inhabitants of those villages were ethnically Andalusī
Muslims. A new Christian population slowly occupied the properties left by Muslims (Moriscos) after April 1609 (date of the expulsion
); many of these newcomers were peasants from nearby villages like Artana, Betxí
, Nules
and Vila-real
as well as other settlers from the north of the Kingdom of Valencia (Maestrat). Seventy-two years after the expulsion of ethnic Muslims, monks from Caudiel
(near Segorbe
) built a little church (Església del Replà) which became a sort of meeting point for the inhabitants of this area. With the passing of time, this church led to the unification of the three former villages which became known as Les Alqueries, which means "the villages". After the Christian conquest in the XIII century, Les Alqueries became part of Vila-real
municipality but it gained independence in 1985 after a decree issued by Generalitat Valenciana
(Valencian autonomous government).
Les Alqueries has now over 4200 inhabitants and its urban area has grown significantly after the year 2000 becoming a quiet residential area.
The town hall, Casa Safont, a modernist building, and La Plaça de les Pedres square, where the rests of a Roman mill are exposed, are two interesting places for tourists.
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...
, in the province of Castellón, part of the autonomous community of Valencia.
Economy is based on agriculture, specializing in growing oranges. It became an independent commune from Vila-real
Vila-real
Vila-real is a city in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community, Spain. Located 7 km to the south of the province's capital , at 42 m above sea level, it has 51,367 inhabitants , most of them living in the urban area that covers about 10.72% of its county's 55.4 km2 surface...
in 1985.
History
The area where Les Alqueries is located (60 kilometers to the north of Valencia) has been populated since the IberianIberians
The Iberians were a set of peoples that Greek and Roman sources identified with that name in the eastern and southern coasts of the Iberian peninsula at least from the 6th century BC...
era. Les Alqueries was formerly divided into three smaller villages called Bellaguarda, Bonastre and Bonretorn. Prior to 1609 most inhabitants of those villages were ethnically Andalusī
Al-Andalus
Al-Andalus was the Arabic name given to a nation and territorial region also commonly referred to as Moorish Iberia. The name describes parts of the Iberian Peninsula and Septimania governed by Muslims , at various times in the period between 711 and 1492, although the territorial boundaries...
Muslims. A new Christian population slowly occupied the properties left by Muslims (Moriscos) after April 1609 (date of the expulsion
Expulsion of the Moriscos
On April 9, 1609, King Philip III of Spain decreed the Expulsion of the Moriscos . The Moriscos were the descendants of the Muslim population that converted to Christianity under threat of exile from Ferdinand and Isabella in 1502...
); many of these newcomers were peasants from nearby villages like Artana, Betxí
Betxí
Betxí is a municipality in the comarca of Plana Baixa in the Valencian Community, Spain.-See also:*List of municipalities in Castellón*Roman Catholic Diocese of Teruel and Albarracín*Roman Catholic Diocese of Tortosa-External links :*...
, Nules
Nules
Nules is a town in eastern Spain, in the province of Castellón . Located 18 km to the south of the province's capital, at 13 m over sea level, it has 13,750 inhabitants , living in Nules Town, Nules Beach and Mascarell....
and Vila-real
Vila-real
Vila-real is a city in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community, Spain. Located 7 km to the south of the province's capital , at 42 m above sea level, it has 51,367 inhabitants , most of them living in the urban area that covers about 10.72% of its county's 55.4 km2 surface...
as well as other settlers from the north of the Kingdom of Valencia (Maestrat). Seventy-two years after the expulsion of ethnic Muslims, monks from Caudiel
Caudiel
Caudiel is a municipality in the comarca of Alto Palancia, Castellón, Valencia, Spain....
(near Segorbe
Segorbe
Segorbe is a municipality in the mountainous coastal province of Castelló, autonomous community of Valencia, Spain. The former Palace of the Dukes of Medinaceli now houses the city's mayor...
) built a little church (Església del Replà) which became a sort of meeting point for the inhabitants of this area. With the passing of time, this church led to the unification of the three former villages which became known as Les Alqueries, which means "the villages". After the Christian conquest in the XIII century, Les Alqueries became part of Vila-real
Vila-real
Vila-real is a city in the province of Castellón, in the Valencian Community, Spain. Located 7 km to the south of the province's capital , at 42 m above sea level, it has 51,367 inhabitants , most of them living in the urban area that covers about 10.72% of its county's 55.4 km2 surface...
municipality but it gained independence in 1985 after a decree issued by Generalitat Valenciana
Generalitat Valenciana
The Generalitat Valenciana is the generic name covering the different self government institutions under which the Spanish autonomous community of Valencia is politically organised....
(Valencian autonomous government).
Les Alqueries has now over 4200 inhabitants and its urban area has grown significantly after the year 2000 becoming a quiet residential area.
Main sights
Les Alqueries is located in a coastal plain, 9 kilometers to the Mediterranean sea. Landscape is largely dominated by orange trees. Sierra de Espadán mountain range (an important protected area) is clearly visible from the village.The town hall, Casa Safont, a modernist building, and La Plaça de les Pedres square, where the rests of a Roman mill are exposed, are two interesting places for tourists.