San Pedro Manrique

Altitude: 1.089 m
Population: 639
Municipal districts: Fuentes de San Pedro, Matasejún, Palacio de San Pedro, Taniñe, Valdenegrillos, Ventosa de San Pedro y Valdelavilla.
Area: 17.620 Has
Annual Festival:June, 23rd – 29th

San Pedro Manrique is an example of mountain style architecture. It was conquered and repopulated by people from Navarre in the 11th century. It used to be the head of the community Town and Land (Villa y Tierra). Until 1464 it was called San Pedro de Yanguas, but then the duke of Nájera changed it, adding his surname: Manrique.

The transhumance was its richness period, with more than 4000 neighbours, four churches and a successful international wood trade through the Atlantic port of La Rochele.

FESTIVALS OF EL PASO DEL FUEGO (WALKING OVER THE FIRE) - – On June, 23rd, festivity of Saint John the Baptist and the longest night of the year, it is celebrated in San Pedro Manrique a rite or an unknown origin. Next to the chapel of the Virgen de la Peña (Virgin of the Rock) a thousand kilos of oak wood are piled and burned. When the embers are ready, they are spread off as a carpet. The neighbours gather around the to watch how the pasadores (walkers) take off their shoes. Silence rules. The walkers, alone or holding another person on their shoulders, cross the embers carpet with daring and courage. Year after year this rite is carried on, preserving the nature and origin of this town and their citizens. The festival goes on the following day with the Móndidas, caballada, descubierta, mayo, arbujuelos, jota and cuartetas. These acts are are followed by less people, although they gather many emotions and history. The festival renews itself every year.

Saint Martin de Tours’ Church - Thanks to its three naves covered by groined vaults held by octagonal pillars, this church is very roomy and spacious. Some Romanesque remains have appeared in last remodeling works. The baroque retable located at the main altar dates from the 18th century and is dedicated to the Immaculate. It comes from the ruined Saint Michael’s Church.

Ruins of the Romanesque Templar Monastery St Peter el Viejo - located over a hill next to the town.

Virgin of the Rock’s Chapel - another of the four old churches. The old church was demolished in the 1930s and it was renewed ten years later keeping its original gate. At its feet the Paso del Fuego festival takes place every year.

Castle of San Pedro Manrique






Fuentes de San Pedro - Gothic Church of San Clemente, 16th century

Matasejún - St Domingo de Silos’ Church. There is an ichnites site on the Adoberas pasture, at the stream Prado, where some waves and theropods remains can be seen.

[http://www.fortunecity.es/horizonte/submarinista/93]

Palacio de San Pedro - Saint Bartolome’s Church in which a Baptism font lies. There is a remarkable big house with a shield on its walls from 1677.

Taniñe - Gothic, 16th century church, abandoned and renewed as part of a drug addict-rehabilitation project.

A tower recalling the remains of an old settlement called El Castelar (3rd century BC). Castillejo de Taniñe is an old broch (5th – 4th century BC) placed over a hill and dated before the one of El Castelar whose major attraction are the walls that used to protect almost the whole settlement. A 40cm high and 13m long wall protected the town from enemy attacks.

In the Necropolis of Taniñe several graves have been found. The bodies were burried together with their best tools and favourite accessories: earrings, spears, axes, glasses and fine pottery.

Valdenegrillos - Placed on a hollow in the Mountain range Sierra de Alcarama, the only inhabitants are a couple of elder people.

Ventosa de San Pedro - (Saint Roque’s Church)

An ichnites site stands out together with a mock-up of an Iguanodon. There are five tracks and eighteen theropod footprints.

Valdelavilla - - is a small village which dates from the 18th century.

After it was abandoned in the 1960s, it was renewed, rebuilt and fitted out as a rural tourist resort thanks to the special conditions of the area related to the weather, architecture, landscape, beautiful flora and fauna.

[http://www.cajarural.com/soria/virtual/turismo/valdev/intro.htm]

Sarnago - In 1980 the Asociación de amigos de Sarnago (Friends of Sarnago Association) was founded and since then a great effort and amazing work have been carried out. Nowadays there are 80 members, an ethnographic museum has been opened in the town and the Móndidas festivity has been recovered.

[http://sarnago.iespana.es]

During the 1960s and 1970s a policy of reforestation was implemented by the Patrimonio Forestal of the Government in the region of the Highlands over an area of 35,000 Has. The reforested villages were suddenly abandoned from one day to the other. The neighbours took their money and emigrated far from their place of origin. These villages are a scene of depopulation. After 40 years, they still keep their original structure but they have suffered a great deterioration. Nowadays they show a strange and mysterious look. The abandoned and open houses invite the visitor to break into their privacy and see the way of living of their last inhabitants.

Buimanco

Valdemoro

Vea - The path to Vea starts at San Pedro Manrique and goes along the riverside of the Linares as a beautiful part of the GR-86.

Armejún - – There is an active association whose biggest achivements has been the restoration of the roof of the church as well as the old washing place. Several houses are also being renewed.

[http://www.geo.ya.com/armejun2001]

Villarijo - There used to be the only trujal (olive oil mill) in this town. Unfortunately it is in ruins nowadays. Some olive trees still live in the area.

Acrijos

[http://www.acrijos.org/]

Fuentebella

Peñazcurna

“Festivals of Paso del Fuego y Móndidas; June 23rd – 29th. Festivals of National Tourist Interest and Good of Cultural Interest in the Category of Historic Place.

Traditional Market: This market, which is on in August, recalls the old market which used to be put up every Monday in Cosa Square. All the neighbours of the region used to go there to sell and buy products such as fruit, vegetables, meat, groceries and cattle.

Cruz de Mayo (May Cross): On May, 3rd. After the mass in which the fields are blessed, the Móndidas are chosen by draw among the single ladies aged between 18 and 30. They will be the main characters of the festival of Saint John.

Services

Town Council: Tel. N.: 975 38 10 01 | Fax: 975 39 80 60 | Email: aytospm@terra.es

Pharmacy: 975 38 10 03

Guardia Civil (Police): 975 38 10 14

Centro de Salud (Health Center): 975 38 11 70

Saint Martin’s Church: 975 38 10 26

FURTHER INTERESTING INFORMATION

[Angel Calonge’s School Jotter]

[Photos of the festivals of San Pedro Manrique]

[San Pedro Manrique website]

[Things from Soria by Misses Goig Soler]