Montánchez
Encyclopedia
Montánchez is a town in Spain
, in the province of Caceres
, Extremadura
.
It is situated at 39°13′N 6°09′W, some 702 metres above sea level. The municipality has an approximate population of just over 2,000.http://www.mancomunidadsierrademontanchez.es/municipios/montanchez/index.html.
The town sits in the Sierra de Montánchez, a small mountain range on the plains of Extremadura. Its elevated position has earned it the nickname "the balcony of Extremadura".
The town's economy relies principally on agriculture. It is one of the main centres in Spain for the production of jamon iberico
, and also produces wine.
, taking advantage of its strategic location in the mountains to build a castle, which still dominates the village today. The town reverted to Christianity
in 1230, when it was taken by Alfonso IX. The castle was updated at this time, but continued to form an important defensive line.
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 Caceres
Cáceres (province)
The province of Cáceres is a province of western Spain, in the northern part of the autonomous community of Extremadura. It is bordered by the provinces of Salamanca, Ávila, Toledo, and Badajoz, and by Portugal....
, Extremadura
Extremadura
Extremadura is an autonomous community of western Spain whose capital city is Mérida. Its component provinces are Cáceres and Badajoz. It is bordered by Portugal to the west...
.
It is situated at 39°13′N 6°09′W, some 702 metres above sea level. The municipality has an approximate population of just over 2,000.http://www.mancomunidadsierrademontanchez.es/municipios/montanchez/index.html.
The town sits in the Sierra de Montánchez, a small mountain range on the plains of Extremadura. Its elevated position has earned it the nickname "the balcony of Extremadura".
The town's economy relies principally on agriculture. It is one of the main centres in Spain for the production of jamon iberico
Jamón ibérico
Jamón ibérico, Iberian ham, also called pata negra, is a type of cured ham produced mostly in Spain, but also in some Portuguese regions where it is called presunto ibérico...
, and also produces wine.
History
Although there is evidence of prehistoric settlement, http://www.montanchez.net/historia/prehistoria.html, the first major residents were the Romans, who founded the town in the first century AD. Moorish invaders captured the town in 713713
Year 713 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 713 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* Byzantine Emperor Philippicus is...
, taking advantage of its strategic location in the mountains to build a castle, which still dominates the village today. The town reverted to Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
in 1230, when it was taken by Alfonso IX. The castle was updated at this time, but continued to form an important defensive line.