CASTILBLANCO

Description

Locality located to the southwest of Helechosa de los Montes , Castilblanco . According to tradition, this town receives its name from the Templar presence in the area, because it was erected in the strategic enclave known as "Castillo de los Blancos" or "Castillo Blanco" - not in vain there was a castle on the hill, what facilitated such a denomination - . It has no past only Castilblanco Templar , but also has remembrances of past eras, as evidenced by the remains of castros and dolmens , as well as some of the cave paintings that can be found in the wooded shelters around the municipal area.

Its urban nucleus, still conserves Arab constructions in the districts of Picocerro and Perchel . In its roads you can find small houses with Arab tile roofs - a clear legacy from the time of the Muslim domination - , with whitewashed facades and small windows, delimiting in this way a peculiar physiognomy that makes these streets a point of interest within the city. locality that the visitor should not miss. For the conservation and exhibition of historic-traditional equipment, Castilblanco has the Ethnographic House Museum .

Another enclave to visit is the Church of San Cristóbal , of Mudejar style - although it was subjected to subsequent reforms that introduced various modifications that adulterated its original conception - , which consists of a large central nave with pointed arches , as well as other two lateral areas , enabled as chapels that house carvings such as the "Cristo de la Luz", around which a pilgrimage is celebrated in September, with an agro - livestock character . The temple has a choir and granite baptismal font on the back, and a polychrome beam on the entrance door to it. Its ochavadas columns stand out as well. Presiding over the sanctuary we find an altarpiece, with Santa María del Castillo in the center and San José and San Cristóbal on the sides. This church dates back to the 15th century and it is called "El Castillo" . This is due to the survival in the apse of the main altar of the remains of an old fortress that was once located in the place where the temple was built. The bell tower - which consists of four arched windows and which gives a splendid view - It could also have been one of the towers of the old bulwark, as well as some of its walls.

Religious architecture is also present in the surroundings, courtesy of the Hermitage of San Matías , located next to an old gully of the Mesta , used as resting place for cattle .The temple dates from the sixteenth century , and has a brick atrium and a stylized lunette vault in its apse . Its interior is simple, with simple shapes, with semicircular arches supporting the wooden roof. It also houses carvings of San Cristóbal and Santa María. Around this hermitage is celebrated the festival of Los Ranchos in May , of Neolithic origin and very popular by the inhabitants of the town .

It is also in the surroundings, of which the area called "San Matías" is part , where we find some areas suitable for bathing and that respond to names such as "El Río" - in the vicinity of the Valdecaballeros bridge - or "Puente de Guadiana" . Other natural places in which you can stroll with tranquility and enjoy the surroundings are Arroyo Grande, Puente Verde and Valle Santiago .

The gastronomy of this town stands out for its cheeses and its patisserie, of recognized prestige. Are cheeses made with raw milk goat or sheep, an exceptional product, receiving the name "Queso de Castilblanco" allowable not only to developed locally, but also others in the region distinction, which does nothing but highlight the sublimity ofthis product. Of fat aftertaste , available both fresh and cured, it is elaborated in different artisan cheese factories whose activity still persists with notorious success. Concerning the confectionery, I cite in this regard the so-called Zucchini rabbits , the candelilla , the dormios and other excellent desserts to sweeten the palate. The remarkable hunting activity in the area gives rise to the tasting of dishes related to hunting, such as the calderetas de cabrito or the caldereta de venado. The well-known escarapuche that characterizes this region is also not missing from Castilblanco's tables . Another dish to be highlighted is the so-called Jilimoje , a recipe made up of torrezillos , liver and pig's blood, among other ingredients. The menu is completed by other dishes such as gray soups, tomato soup or cachaça soups, to name a few.

It concludes the review of the gastronomic virtues of Castilblanco with the mention to its virgin olive oil , of great quality, elaborated from varieties of olive chamomile and of alcornozuelo.

 

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