La Bañeza's (León) Spain, Touristic guide

©Allrighs reserved «La Bañeza Hoy»
I.S.S.N. 1455/1999
Translated by: Mª Carmen Alvarez Quiñones

How to come?

From Madrid to Corunna, The Bañeza was a city of step and stop for many years you have
ta that the National turned VI away from the center for the tracing that it still supports today. The Biggest Square (to the fund of the photo) with moderate you, lamppost or source, or renewed as now, ways crossing has been for centuries. And concerning this crossing of ways, place of stop and small restaurant, the business arose to give service to the neighboring ones and to the travelers, houses of meals as the mythical one - today closed - «House Boño», in whose ancient front, as in many others, it can still observe a horseshoe tying where the horse.
Today the center has tended to peatonalizarse, but it is still possible to see the intersection of ways that was our big square, and observing the street map you will realize that the crossing of ways of the Biggest Square joins the ancient N-VI that was crossing the city for the narrow street Astorga, whose name indicates everything: the street goes towards the Astorga locality. So much from the same it goes on with the avenue of Portugal, which highway CL-622 even is right slightly also it was crossing the Biggest Square giving way towards León and towards Portugal (today also there has tended to turn aside the traffic of his step along the historical center, where, in a pedestrian walk, we will be able to see many of the monuments of The Bañeza (although we will treat that in another section).

COMMUNICATIONS FOR HIGHWAY
The city is provided with very good communication for ca
rretera, well be for divided highway, by means of the A-6, ó for the CL-622 that joins The Bañeza with León and Zamora.

BUS STATION
Terminal Bus of the company ALSA facilitates connections with a good number of destinations: provincial, national and international
Bus station THE BAÑEZA Tf.: 987 641 700

TRAIN
As for the transport in train, the stations of more nearby RENFE are: -Astorga (21 km)
- León (50 km)
Phone of Information Renfe: 902 240 202

PLANE Phone of Information AENA: 902 40 47 04

For desplazamien
cough in plane, the ae
ropuerto more pró -
ximo is that of The Virgin of the Way (León) to approximately 40 km from gift
of operan the com
pañías AirNostrum and Lagunair.


Location



l municipality of The Bañeza is to the south-west of the province of León, to 45 km from the capital.
The extension of his municipal term is 19,7 km2.
The locality of The Bañeza gets up in a fertile flatness splashed by the waters of the rivers Duerna Tuerto and Órbigo.
The highest point is the Mount Teleno, of 2.188 meters of altitude. This mount is covered of snow practically the whole year.
The Bañeza is provided with a continental climate that characterizes in the winters much colds and the summer months of very agreeable temperatures.

History




expert the first historical references to the territory ba-ñezano allude to the character astur of his inhabitants. Close to the current one The Bañeza, in St Martin of Towers, it is located, with all probability the emplacement of the city astur of Bedunia mentioned in diverse Roman geographical sources, like the so called Itinerary of Antonino, what gives us complete account of the importance of this space.
The gold, the metal plenty and the agricultural wealth of the territory, motivated the conquest of Rome between the 29s to 19s B.C. that culminates during the reign of the emperor Augusto. Since then and until the Vth century of our age, the space bañezano was part of the Convents Iuridicus Asturum, inside the province of
Gallaecia, which was including, during the end of the Roman empire, the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula.
His position in an authentic ways crossing, did that it was an area of human occupation dense and quoted by different peoples during the German invasions that finished with Rome.
In the middle of the Vth century, visigoths and suebis fought in the surroundings of The Bañeza, in the deserted today of Fennel, for the mastery of these grounds, staying the victory of the side of the Goths.
It is very probable that during these centuries, V al VIII siglos, in the precincts of the current church of San Salvador, existed a minor small establishment perhaps linked to a religious nucleus.
The Moslem invasion of 711 devastated these grounds, since the this way called Route of the Silver that crosses them was one of the arteries of penetration used by the Arab armies in the conquest.
In the middle of the IXth century, by order of count Gatón de El Bierzo, the current emplacement is born bañezano, formed from two different nuclei. One, with population of Pereje (Bierzo), San Pedro of Périx founds, other, with Mozarabs come from Cordova it settles concerning San Salvador, naming to this habitat Bani Eiza or the place belonging to Jesus's progeny (Isa, Eiza). Of the merger of Mozarabs of Cordoba and of bercianos the extract will be born aperturista and cosmopolitan of The Bañeza, as well as his first market and two parishes: San Pedro, who with the time will move to Santa Maria, and San Salvador, which, like familiar monastery, will be offered at the beginning of the Xth century to the bishop San Genadio.
At the end of this century, the Almanzor troops destroy the monastery, which will be recovered at the beginning of the XIth century and again offered to the bishopric. The subsequent peace as well as his place in the Route of the Silver, one of the historical Ways of Peregrination to Santiago de Compostela, marks part of his vital extract.
But first of all the medieval history of The Bañeza is the forge of his commercial character and of economic head of a territory. His market, famous the Kingdom of León and, after 1.230, in the Crown of Castile, continues living and actively up to the present.
In the XIth century The Bañeza would be known like Vanieza receiving his name reputation for his market, which was standing out between all those of the Kingdom of León.
During the Modern Age, our city happened to turn into the head of the Marquisate of equal name in hands of the family Bazán. To this prosperous city there will come merchants, craftsmen and merchants come from the distant grounds of Europe, fundamentally Flemish and French, specializing in textiles, one of the most important unions of the city. Head office of the Overtaking of the Kingdom during part of the XVIIth century, The Bañeza turned into a modality aperturista and assets of the Crown.
As other cities, he suffered the consequences of the Napoleonic occupation and the sufferings of the wars Carlists. At the end of the XIXth century, in 1.895, it received officially the title of hand city of the queen Maria Cristina de Habsburgo-Lorena manages, on behalf of his son Alfonso XIII.
The Bañeza today is a hereditary wise city of the frank and cosmopolitan character of all his settlers from the antiquity. A metropolis that receives with the open arms, which it is festive and carnavalera, but also it would be and
rigorous in the business, business-minded and active. A distinguished city cradle of many illustrious personages - from out-standing conductors as the teacher Odón Alonso Ordás, whom the Town hall, in his recognition, has named by «Odón Alonso« the Es cuela Policeman of Music - up to poets, like Ernesto Méndez Luengo, who also has a street in his honor that it inaugurated in life, in the quarter of The Powder keg (Odón Alonso has a square landscaped with a source and statue), or Antonio Colinas, writer famous orihundo of our city to which The Bañeza dedicated a square.
The Bañeza also has streets and squares with names of religious and religious like Santa Joaquina Vedruna or the Bishop Alcolea... And: do they remember of that photosyllabic method - that of the primers - with which aprendiero the letters in the school? Since Antonio Palau designed it, in whose name also there is a street bañezana (in particular that of the school San Jose of Calasanz), names of streets that little by little you will be discovering in your walks along the city. A city where they all are well received.

To sleep in The Bañeza

Now when we have spoken to you about the distinguished and illustrious nations who have his cradle in The Bañeza, and have spoken to you about the history of the city, it is sure that you want to remain in her a few days to begin knowing it thoroughly. So the first thing will be to lodge you therefore I am going to give you a few advices so that you settle in her to happen a few days.
To stay you have four forms:
1. - to rent an apartment, a house or an apartment. In The Ba-ñeza in addition to the different real estate offices where you will see rent offers, we have two provincial channels of television, two local radio stations and other two with head office in Astorga that they express for The Bañeza, and one of Alija (where the people announce buyings and sellings and rents) although perhaps the easiest thing for that is to buy any of two local weekly newspapers, «The Advance ba
ñezano» ó «Bañeza Hoy» and to see his rents section. 2.-camping. If you like camping (well with tent or motor home), to inform you that we have a municipal camping in the C / From Leon Jurisdictions.
Pilgrims 3.-hostel. The city also possesses a hostel for the pilgrims who do the «Route of the Silver»
(«Route of the Silver» more information: to see routes / excursions section)

4.-Aunque the most habitual option is to stay at a hotel, cheap hotel, pension or house of rural turísmo. In The Bañeza and his region (peoples of around), we possess several, facilitate a list to you.

PRICES CAMPING

To eat in The Bañeza

To eat can eat up in many parts, but not always so well how in The Bañeza where our traditional gastronomy is still cooked how formerly, with the house recipe, in many of the restaurants of our city (Madrid, Johnny, Los Angeles...) Eating is a possibilities world.
In The Bañeza you can decide in favor of multiple restaurants where to ask for the menu of the day, to eat à la carte, etc. In many the traditional string beans serve you to the bañezana and in some you will find the traditional frog's legs. Everyone the dá a particular taste with a secret ingredient.
In The Bañeza also we have high kitchen, a restaurant that is an authentic luxury for the palate, which appears in the Guide Campsa and in the Guide Michelín. I am speaking about one of these places of high hotel trade where the kitchen is bigger than the dining room, so his proprietor, which was a chef of the Hotel Palace of Madrid, a Paco Rubio, prefers to attend to few clients, but to give to them of eating exquisite plates not only prepared with ingredients of the first quality but even some of the proper garden of the cheff (ej. salads). rte. Fair-haired Paco: high kitchen.
In The Bañeza also it is possible to choose to eat bargain sale and good. One of the places where you can eat very well at a reasonable price is the inn «The Pine grove» or in the meals house «It Wets the rooster».
That thing about to eat in an inn - wine vault - the Vats, Museum of the mud, or «The Caprice» in Jiménez de Jamuz - in addition to a spectacle for the palate also can be it for the sight for the local charming thing.
In addition to the hotel meal, to choose between the Bedu-nia, the Ermitage, The Treasury Department, where he eats up very well, or Infanta Mercedes, (seafood restaurant, etc.), in The Bañeza also you can choose to go away to a Chinese restaurant or an Italian. And if you are in the hurry we have fast food places: bagueterías, hamburger restaurants and pizzerias. And also pue
give to choose to eat by means of covers, in this case we recommend to you the Abbey or the inn The Alley. Also you can choose for the self-service of the bus station.


Gastronomy
The gastronomy bañezana is assembled by an endless number of plates that can be tasted in any of the numerous restaurants of our city, although if it consults our nations they will speak to him about their two: the string beans and the frog's legs.
The String beans to the Bañezana and the Frog's legs are the plates star and those with which, out of our borders, our gastronomy is identified. The "frog's legs" have turned into the plate king, into the excellent delicacy, into the principal axis that moves the whole culinary gear assembly bañezano, placing itself in the highest of the gastronomic roster for his oddness and exquisiteness. His success is because all his primitivism preserves this plate, so much in the ingredients used for the making of his traditional red sauce, by means of olive oil, salt, ointment, paprika and some secret seasoning that distinguishes to every restaurant, like in the receptacles in which it is prepared and serves, the typical mud casserole.
As for our famous and recognized string beans, which are recognized by the denomination IGP String bean of The Bañeza-Léon, they can be tasted to the traditional way savouring a few delightful «String beans to the Bañezana» or in the most sophisticated plates of modern kitchen where they demonstrate that his adaptation capacity in the kitchen is infinite.
After recommending to them the first specialty of the house, and an exquisite main course, we are going to speak to them about the desserts, and here, to choose, it is going to have it more difficult. The existing confectioneries in the city prepare the whole scale of delightful specialties between which we are going to emphasize the following ones:

In Carnival, we can enjoy the "Ears", «Dominós of Carnival», the «Donuts in oil» or the "Milk toasts" that traditionally are consumed for these dates.
Before the Holy Week is celebrated there can be acquired the «Rolls of San Lázaro», the most ancient product of the home-made confectioner's bañezana.
Already in Holy Week the «Almonds appear in the shop windows of the confectioneries sugared almonds and salted» next to the bottles of «Lemon soda bañezana» done in a mud pitcher, basing on wine, sugar, you happen, figs, lemon, stick cinnamon and any other secret of workshop, miscellany that is left several days in maceration before being ready to tipple and to serve.
By The Saints there appear the tasty "Donuts" full of cream and fried food in the best olive oil and the «Saint's bones».
In the Christmas there comes the "Nougat", where the variety is infinite since every confectioner strains in personalizing his makings.

In addition to the period sweets, during the whole year we can consume the specialties most known out of our grounds as there are the "Imperials", exquisite dessert where they are and where the almond marks the flavor, the «Pastas of San Blas», the thinnest «toasted Egg yolks», the "Besitos" with flavor to coconut, the chocolate "Truffles" and honey or the chocolate "Angelicas" and almond connecting with this tradition chocolate pot that always existed in our city, or the "conraditos".
To close this paragraph we want to highlight a very ancient custom that still lasts between the families bañezanas, this affectionate custom is «the bunch». In the birthdays or saints, the family or the friends tie in a showy tape all kinds of bonbons, caramels and tidbits that in a moment of oversight one introduces for the head of the person being honored wishing him a lot of congratulations.
And we cannot finish this paragraph without mentioning the tradition of the spikes before the mealtime or having dinner, that make use with the short gratuítamente, in the bars of The Bañeza and region, and that are, any, a few authentic gastronomic exquisitenesses.

Museums and exhibition halls

In the cultural paragraph The Bañeza it has much that to offer to the tourists. In addition to the monuments about which we will speak next (churches with his images, reredoses, chapels of the different brotherhoods), this city has three exhibition halls and six museums (two open seas, two to point, other in works and other in proyacto). In C/Padre Miguélez there is the historical building of the theater (to see in the paragraph monuments) and little further on is the building that lodges the Point of Juvenile Information (P.I.J)., the Historical File «Conrado Blan
co», and the Municipal library, which also usually receives temporary exhibitions.

MUSEUM OF THE BREAD - CENTER OF INTERPRETATION
- situated in the C / Brother Diego Alonso
Building of 1.929, ancient factory of flours in which also of there is seen the architecture of the epoch and the original machinery of the factory, traveling exhibitions will be able to be contemplated.
MUSEUM OF THE CLOTHING AND JEWELRY SHOP
- situated in the C / Juan de Mansilla (monumental building: anti -
gua culture house: to see aptdo. monuments)
Permanent exhibition of typical suits and jewelry shop bañezana.
MUSEUM MAKER OF RELIGIOUS IMAGES NTRO. NAZARENE P. JESUS
- situated in the C / Juan de Mansilla
Permanent exhibition
Religious religious images, steps, processional clothing
Schedules: working days from 10 to 13 h
MUSEUM OF THE STRING BEAN
- situated in the edifico IGP-Alubia de La Bañeza (along with the crossing)
Permanent exhibition
GALLERY VENATIA
- situated in the C / Father Miguélez
Temporary exhibitions of art
Schedules: labor of 19 to 21.30h. festive of 12 to 14h.
EXHIBITION HALL BOX SPAIN
- situated in C/Astorga Exposiciones art storms (pintu- ra, sculpture...) I change every 20 days approximately
Schedules: working days of 19 to 21h. festive from 12 to 14
CULTURAL CENTER INFANTA CRISTINA
Temporary exhibitions
- situated in the Pl. Bishop Alcolea, edif. Infanta Cristina
Schedules: working days of 19 to 21h. festive from 12 to 14
MUSEUM OF THE MOTORBIKE Asoc. Friends Motos Clásicas. IN PROJECT
MUSEUM OF DON ANGEL
Situated in «City Missionary» (outskirts of the N-VI direction Benavente, in particular in the Km 300) finds the Museum of D. Angel. In him there can be seen the office of work, the oratory, the bedroom, photos and personal documents of the life of the priest D. Angel Riesco Carbajo of the one that in 2006 celebrated his centenary.

Monuments




The Bañeza does not have an out-standing monument as Burgos or León or Astorga can have it with his cathedral, or Lugo with his walls, or León with San Marcos... Our city is a monument in itself and it is necessary to concentrate on the houses, on the buildings, front to front, to realize that many houses contain many history. The houses of the Biggest Square, the situated ones on the porticoes, facing the Town hall and along with also historical Church of Santa Maria about which then we will speak, have been catalogued by his historical value. Many of ancient and traditional he marries bañezanas they were getting up on a portico of wooden culumnas (today many have been reinforced). These houses with his typical row of balconies possess a cobbled patio, courtyards that can be observed in some 'patios' of pubs of the C / Astorga (and with patios I am not referring to the tables that the bars install in the street, but to interior areas like that of the Garden of the Illness that usually opens in summer).
This typical and traditional way of building has tried to be supported in many of the current and modern edidicios that have kept on erecting porticoes, which give the advantage to the walker of walking to the cover both in winter and in summer, in winter sheltering from the rains since the portico covers the sidewalk, and in summer being protected from the strong sun of the four of the evening since going under the portico you will walk to the shade.


CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA

His construction is begun in the first half of the XVIth century, under the patronazgo of the Bazán, masters of The Bañeza, which shields can turn in the central dome. Heiress of ancient San Pedro of Périx.
It is of starred Gothic style, with plant basilical of three ships separated by props with styles intermingled Gothic and Renaissance man.
At the beginning of the XVIIth century he suffered some modifications, going so far as not to keep in many cases any relation with the original building.
It possesses three doors; South door, call of the Vestry or of the New Street (today Juan de Mansilla), the North door or of the Street of the Wine (today Fernández Cadórniga) and the principal door to the feet with front in the shape of bulrush.
The soil of the church was full of headstones, every grave had his price as the place or the place, being more faces placed close to the presbytery where it was possible only to bury the priests. These headstones have been placed in the atrium of the church, after a recent restoration of the temple.

The saint's church Maria, temple of plant of Latin cross, is placed in full center of the city.
In his interior it is possible to admire an excellent size of Gregorio Fernández, one of the best makers of religious images of the S. XVII, «The Piety» high quality artistic. During the Holy Week, there is entrusted of procesionarla the Brotherhood of Our Father Jesus Nazareno.
Also it is of emphasizing the reredos of the high altar of the XVIIth century of the famous local sculptor Francisco de Rivera, to whom some of the best examples owe of the Renaissance art of the province of León, and the baroque organ restored recently. Also there are interesting the size of Santa Teresa of Diego de Gamboa (1634) of the school of Gregorio Fernández as the size of San Pablo, the first representation known in sculpture of Saint John of the Cross work of Diego de la Peña and the size of La Asunción of Lucas Gutiérrez (1662).
The tower begins in 1.750 to substitute the bulrush that it took as an auction. He suffered multiple debts for the death of the architects and parish priests, turning his construction from a beginning in an authentic odyssey. The first body realized his Antonio Martín de Suinaga and the second Simón Gavilán Tomé. The tower suffered a fire on August 11 of 1.894 there being burned the capital that was finishing off it. In several occasions it has tried to be covered again but finally it has never been done, presenting at present an aspect similar to that of a castellated tower that has turned, together with the tower of the town hall, into the image emblem of the city.

GLESIA OF SAN SALVADOR

Head of the Mozarabic enclave that gave birth to The Bañeza, his memory is located in the IXth century. Like familiar monastery, it relapsed into the marriage formed by Aba-mor Eximiz and his wife, magnates to the service of the king of León, who provided it and improved it being delivered to the bishop San Genadio at the beginning of the tenth century. Destruído for Almanzor, was already recovered and delivered again in the XIth century. His situation in the Route of the Silver, favored the existence of a refuge and hospital of pilgrims that is the documented first one of the one that has written steadfastness, as well as the heyday of this spiritual center.
It possesses three ships and preserves a Romanesque apse of the XIIth century, turned and smooth, of big beauty, with cornice checkered and reinforced by four columns, two of them finished off with capitals of foliages. Under the eaves of the roof there are several cantilevers with human, animal heads and vegetable motives and also there can be seen stones fixed in his walls of the same epoch.
Also it is of there admires a major reredos of Francisco Rivera, of the century XVII.Fue reformed during the Modern Age (XVIth and XVIIth centuries). They belong to this period the current front, of Plateresque style, as well as the tower, in which they can turns to half a height two ancient ashlars in arcade one and other with a rose window. Also the font that is 1.639.
The baroque reredos of the high altar, realized in wood of walnut, is a work of Francisco Rivera (XVIIth century) and it represents the Cradle scene with the stage of the law, the Trinidad and the prophet Elías.
Also there can be admired eight linens of Felipe Gil of Ore, of the school of Gregorio Fernández, which represent the apostles and a size of San Salvador or of Good titular Pastor de Lucas Gutiérrez (1659) of the parish.
The lamppost that today illuminates the square was forged in 1.891 and previously it was placed in the Biggest Square.

CHAPEL OF OUR FATHER NAZARENE JESUS

There lodges the Museum Maker of religious images where there can be seen interesting processional steps between which the following ones stand out:
- Nazarene, author Luis Salvador Carmona XVIII s.
- our Lady of The Bitterness, author Navarro Santafé 1944.
- crucified, author Faustino Sanz Herranz, 1986
- Jesus Prendido, author Antonio Palau (bañezano), 1941.

Also they can be contemplated:
- the Borriquilla, anonymous (school of Olot), 1961
- the Prayer in the Orchard, anonymous, XIXth century.
- the Kiss of Judas, author, Laureano Villanueva Gutiérrez, 1975.
- the Scourges, anonymous (school of Olot), XIXth century.
- the Holiest Patience, author Manuel Borja, XIVth century ó 1668.
- Ecce Homo, anonymous, XIXth century.
- Verónica, anonymous, XIXth century.
- Jesus Crucificado, anonymous (school of Olot), XIXth century.
- reply of The Piety, author Gregorio Fernández, XVIth century.
- the Solitude, anonymous, is not dated.
- Saint John, author Hipólito Pérez Cano 1976

CHAPEL OF OUR MRS. OF
THE ANXIETY AND SOLITUDE
It exhibits the same way his processional steps, emphasizing the following works:
- Virgin of the Anxiety, author Luis de la Vena (1600), painter Juan de la Vega
_ Anonymous paintings of The Passion of the XVIIth century.
_ Jesus Yacente. Articulated. Anonymous work of the XVIIth century.
_ Christ Resucitado. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ The Prayer in the Orchard. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ Christ Atado to the Column. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ Christ Crucificado. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ Saint Potajero. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ Saint Angel de la guarda. Anonymous of the XVIIth century.
_ The Solitude. Of dressing. Anonymous work of the XVIIth century.
_ The Descent. Author Serquella-Olot (1965)
_ Christ Crucificado. Author Serquella-Olot (1983)

ANCIENT HOSPITAL AND CHAPEL OF THE EDGE CROSS
The first references of 1539. Reconstruído in 1897. The Hospital is probably the most ancient civil building that survives in The Bañeza. The Chapel allows to admire the following works:
- Christ Nazareno de la Vera Cruz. Anonymous of the XVth century.
- our Lady of the Hope. Author Jesus Manuel Benítez Castro (2002)
- holy Vera Cruz. Author Luis Miguel Fdez. Roan (2001)
- Verónica. Anonymous XVIIth century.
ANCIENT HOUSE OF THE CULTURE
It is one of the most notable buildings of the city that it is going to join to his architectural value of lodging an extraordinary collection of suits and jewelry shop on having turned into the Museum of the Clothing of the Earths Bañezanas.
Of the old woman Caa de Cultura to emphasize that it is possible to admire a picture of the XVIIIth century that represents Santo Tomás de Aquino, of the Asturian painter Valdés Includes, as well as the shop window of the hollow of the stairs or the tiled beautiful one of the wall of the stairs of service (in the top photo).
The building is in the C / Juan de Mansilla.

BRIDGE OF IRON
Splendid work of the engineering of the iron (photo in front). This type of bridge, of which scarcely four survive in our província, is completely riveting (without soldadu
evenness). That of The Bañeza was restored last year (2006) and identical with red English. Beautiful area to go for a walk.

MUNICIPAL THEATER PEREZ ALONSO
Situated in the C / Father Miguelez, the theater, which interior be have just rehabilitated, is a work of Javier Sanz. It is a modernist work that dates of 1930. (photo p. 16)

IT MAKES OF FLOURS
Modernist building situated in the C / Brother Diego Alonso who shortly will happen to be the Center of Interpretation - museum of the Bread (photo in front and on museums page)

MAJOR SQUARE PORTICADA
It preserves part of his flavor of the beginning of the XXth century with houses of two or three plants of modernist invoice, also of neomudéjar style and classical decoration.

TOWN HALL
Work of Lázaro Cárdenas (1909). He emphasizes from the construction the central tower that lodges the clock - that it marks the hours with the music of the «Anthem of the happiness» - toast that it has turned into emblem of our city.
In the interior staircase of marble of the consistorial house to admire the collection that there exhibits of sculptures in bronze of the artist bañezano Antonio Paláu and the shop window (pag 2)

CEMETERY
Of style neomudéjar, it is a work of author Juan Bau-tista Lázaro of Diego (1887) and his principal front is one of the best architectural works of the city.

MODERNIST BUILDINGS
Houses located in different streets of the city: Major square, C / Astorga, Avda. Route of the Silver, C / of the Clock, C / Juan de Mansilla... Buildings of one or two plants of brick and/or stone, decoration of iron in balconies and lookouts, also cement lookouts (novel in The Ba-ñeza), embellishment with pilasters, garlands, sunflowers and other modernist motives. (photo of the epoch in the p. 10 and to compare with top photo).

HOLIDAYS
THE BOSS 7 big August Holiday

The people of The Bañeza are entertained, for nature.
Of affable and talkative character, as the nations of our region, the bañezano of on foot is a nearby person, politely, that, to to speak with the whole world and it begins easily conversation although it does not meet you. Do not miss this way the desire of these nations to us of spending it to him well. For it we have dedicated in this guide a special paragraph facing the free time, free time, holidays and traditions, which here and now we initiate.
Of special interest there are the Carnivals, about which we will speak later. We cannot forget the celebrations of Holy Week with the only acts in all the geography as it is the celebration of the Saint Potajero (to which we dedicate also a special paragraph). And, following the chronological order, we have come to the big holidays of August about which I am going to happen to speak now.
The big holidays of this city, The Bañeza, take place for ten days including two weekends of August, being the big day on the 15th.
Since you will have realized on August 15 La Asunción de Ntra is celebrated. Lady. and in honor to her and to San Roque, the bañezanos enjoy of ten days of jollification in which fairs and markets are not missing, medieval acts, the cir
co in the street, big concerts, and the traditional one, and the only in the whole Spain, motorbikes career, a Big speed Award for urban circuit of those who are not already almost celebrated in the world (for it we dedicate a page in special to the motorbikes and to the big love bañezana to the same ones).
The management holidays of The Bañeza begin - as they do The local Carnivals with the act of public announcement and proclamation of the figure of the Carnival: "The muse» - with the public announcement of the management holidays and the Coronation of the Queens of the Holidays (infantile and major) and his checkers.
The Town hall usually brings from auctioneer an illustrious person of big reputation in our geography. The act usually takes place in the Biggest Square and culminates with fireworks (which burned formerly the roof of the tower of the ilesia of the square that now is castellated), and a big dinner in one of the magnificent hotels or restaurants of the city.
The holidays lodge a big number of acts for not
ños and major, from the giants and bigheaded ones up to fairs and markets, jugglers, tightrope walkers, acrobats, etc.
The big day there approach to the city nations of all the peoples of the region and offer him, at 12 of the night, a few spectacular fireworks.

Motorbikes / Big Award of Speed and Motocross

If I say that very few cities of Spain and they are so keen to the whole world of the sport as The Bañeza is possible that to many who read to us it seems to them that I am exaggerating, but really I cover much little risk of being wrong. Few cities of 11.000 inhabitants can presume to have not a team of soccer or one of basketball with his school, or one of indoor soccer with his school, but to have two cycle clubs, one of chess, one of rhythmic gymnastic, other of athletics, schools of athletics, of tennis, pin - set, swimming, piragüísmo (we have a club that covers the whole Spain with piragüístas very out-standing)... surely that I forget many sports and sportsmen (since in addition to the team sports we have figures alone that they emphasize in all the ambiences), but of what I cannot forget, since it would be a sin, it is of mentioning the big love that has our city to the motorbikes.
The Bañeza today is the trace of the urban careers of motorbikes. We have a Motorbike Club - the Motorbike Club Bañeza - Not - with more than half a century of history and in that more than 10 % of the city is associate.
The Bañeza receives every year at least two outstanding tests in the world of the motorcycling: the Motocross, in the circuit of ‘The Salgada’ on Holy Week, and the career of motorbike G.P. 125 c.c. with cuatros you try (two of classic, 2T and 4T to part of the Big Award), in the August holidays.
We are already of few cities of the world in that the spectacular nature of a test of these characteristics develops in urban circuit, that is to say, the streets of The Ba
ñeza they transform during a weekend of the holidays, in circuit, to receive 20.000 persons visitors (that is to say, The Bañeza, in these dates, his population trebles).

Carnivals / The Whole Bañeza disguises itself

There are the authentic holidays of The Bañeza that in the north area of Spain possess the reputation of those of Cadiz or Tenerife (Many people displace The Bañeza to attend the mythical carnivals, which category there has been recognized by the «Escutcheon of silver» of the Turismode the Meeting of Castile and León from the year 1.990, obtaining, in the year 2.002, the declaration of «Holiday of Regional Tourist Interest» in the same administration.
It is known science true nor how not when they began, but there has always been admitted how a popular, spontaneous, entertaining, anarchic and almost clandestine declaration up to the arrival of the democracy, moment in which one organizes as we know it at present.
The first document that endorses the carnival bañezano is gathered by the Albanian Father in his book The Bañeza and his history, it extracted of the protocols of Antonio Ferreras of 1675 on the «jubilee of 40 hours in the carnival days». In this document D.Luis González, neighbor of The Bañeza, it does testament and exhibits his last wishes in different clauses, in one of which he arranges: "I declare that I leave 8.000 real ones so that there is done a foundation of 40 hours of the carnival days in the Convent of Carmen Descalzo of this town. There will be celebrated in the above mentioned convent Sunday, Monday and Shrove Tuesday. It will be with mass, sermon and exhibition of the Holiest and with 8.000 real ones and his revenues there will be supported the foundation of the jubilee of 40 hours forever»
With histories as these there does not stay any doubt of the antiquity and the long carnival tradition caused and supported by the nations of the city.
In more nearby times, in the 50s and 60s, the holiday begins to grow and with the arrival of the democracy and the heyday of the freedoms it explodes strongly up to turning into the carnival that today we know. During this epoch there were called they winter Holidays to avoid the governmental prohibitions. The carnavaleros bañezanos were defying the prohibitions and were "covering" the carnival in front of the authority, which was doing the fat sight when the most bold were coming to the train station disguised, to entertain and to surprise the incredulous travelers or to go out of the cars of the train so that they were not throwing the glove the authorities. Still today the bañezanos keep on using the term «to cover the carnival» to refer to the fact of disguising itself, of going out and of enjoying to the maximum the days of the holiday.
In the 70s, and during more than 10 years, the rock The Bartolos granted the awards Bile and Honey to personalities that had been characterized by the support to the carnival and to others that, on the contrary, had not done it.
Every new carnival begins on the following day of the last one that has been lived. The whole year the bañezanos pass preparing his new suits. The houses are constantly full of cloths, buttons, spangles and other elements that are giving form little by little to the next design, which design will keep up to the last moment in the most absolute secret.

Holy Week / religious Fervor

Saint Potajero, fill the stew to me / fill it to me more, that it is for the half...»
This is what the children sing in one of the only acts in Spain who stand out between the processions of the Holy Week of The Bañeza. Thousands of persons give themselves appointment on the Holy Wednesday to eat free the traditional stew of rice, chick-peas and cod, that the cófrades of The Brotherhood of Ntra. Mrs. of The Anxiety and Solitude - one of the three they exist
teas in our city (there us would lack for cital that of Vera Cruz and to that of Ntro. Father Jesus Nazeno, the most numerous of the three) - they pass the whole night preparing in big pans in the courtyard of his brotherhood. A tradition that began to feed to the poor, siem sequestration of the hotpot today eats the whole world.
Of the Holy Week Bañezana, with steps that have to envy nothing to those of other important cities of Spain, I want to mention other acts like the Palm Sunday, The Procession of the Silence, the resuscitated one by the brotherhood of Vera Cruz pro
transfer of the Miserere (that takes place to the ruído of the tubs in view of lanterns carried to hand, the night-0.00h - of the Holy Wednesday-), or the Procession of the Meeting.
Our city has his bands of buglers and drums, which pass the whole year testing for the date, and a big devotion and religious feeling between his nations (young people and adults)

Fairs and markets

The Bañeza, city of excellent merchants, has been able to support this tradition throughout the times. The typical Saturday flea market in which the farmers of the region were coming to sell his products (fruits, vegetables, craft), has been extended in products - since not in streets [The Bañeza supports still like name of his streets the one that refers to the product that there was selling: the merchants were gathering together for unions (ej. tanners, weavers situated in the street map; and others in the popular memory that not in the official street map. You can still today ask the nations of The Bañeza for other streets or squares like ‘the square of the fritters’-Pl. Brother Diego Alonso - or the street of the vegetable-Dr. Lever, in which in spring in addition to fresh products of the garden of the region you will be able to find seeds and plants of pepper, onions, lettuces, etc. to transplant to ('put) the garden-; and they will give you account.]
The flea market today is a big place of meeting of nations of all the parts and in addition to the street of the vegetable (Dr. Palanca), in Route of the Silver you will be able to acquire almost of everything.


WEEKLY ELMERCADO (Saturdays 09:00 to 15:00 h)
and he says that he was born does more than thousand years, in the shade of the Monastery of San Salvador that for then was built, they began to come on Sunday eve, looking for the protection of the monks, nations of the places next to changing or to sell the products of the ground.
The market that had been born would be, for centuries, the principal source of wealth and the engine of growth and development of the town bañezana. With the years, this market was acquiring name, and his reputation penetrated the borders of the Ornia, of the Órbigo, of the Jamúz and of the Eria, starting to
to come nations of Gallicia, Asturias, Extremadura, León and Castile.
The open character of his inhabitants, the seriousness in the dealing, as well as a privileged geographical situation, intersection of ways and routes, did that for centuries that this market was one of the most important of Castile and León, favoring his growth the fact that different Gentlemen throughout the centuries were exempting it, as privilege, from the payment of taxes and taxes to help in his growth. And this way it is like this market it has come until our days and keeps on being celebrated every Saturday of the year. We invite him to to come and enjoy it. He will not be disappointed with him. (*)

THE FAIR OF THE ALUBIADA
It was restored in 2003 achieving a big success and attracting numerous public of the region. The fair, which is celebrated in the middle of September around the string bean - excellent typical product with IGP-.
String beans are cooked in the Biggest Square by the cooks of the local association of restaurants ‘The Tartera’ for 3.000 persons-. In addition to the popular string beans meal in tartera of mud of Jiménez de Jamuz and wooden spoon, a main course makes use at the cost of the plate and the spoon there is popular music and puestecillos where there are on sale products of the area (vegetables, bread, sweets, etc.)


TOURIST ROUTES
For the route of the Silver

If other cities and small localities can presume to be in the "Milky Way", route of excellent peregrination, The Bañeza can presume to be crossed by the historical «Route [that not Route - it is not the same thing-] of the Silver».
It is known as «a Route of La Plata» to the ancient Roman roadway that was joining Merida with Astorga. His birth owed to the need to facilitate the circulation of goods and troops between the north and the south of the peninsula up to the medieval epoch.
His trip with times of The Cattle-breeders' guild coincided with the called Real Gully of The Vizana.
We propose a trip to them for a "child" stretch - of several kilometers, but child with regard to the whole of what would be the whole route - which covers our region, it crosses our city, and comes to another big city about which also we will speak to them. The Meeting of Castile and León speaks about her in one of his guides designating to the area about which we are going to speak like «Stretch II». The idea is for all the tourists approach us of the nearby cities of Astorga or Benavente. If by chance it is in Astorga, up to where it has come from León crossing the region of the Órbigo, it can turn aside of the Route Jacobea for a few days and approach up to The Bañeza. (Also it is possible to do the trip on the contrary).
We go out of Astorga in direction Benavente. Shortly after happening for Trap of the Way we will be able to see the historical Bridge of Valimbre, one of our first stops. The bridge, on the river Turienzo, was construído in Roman epoch. On him they think up the Route of the Silver and the Route Braga-Astorga.
We continue our march crossing the Valderrey localities, Irrigation of the Vega, Toral of Fund, Santa Maria of the Island and Palaces of the Valduerna (of which we do special mention in another paragraph of this alumnus section «Routes«). And the fact is that Palacios, as we show in photos, possesses a historical palace that was a summer residence of king Alfonso V of León. Palaces of the Valduer-na it possesses a suitable place so that all our friends who make this route do stop and small restaurant, a cheap hotel of you - rísmo rural called «Dominion of the Bazán» where, depending on the hour to which you do this trip, you will be able to have breakfast, eat, take a refreshing aperitif of half an evening, have dinner or lodge you to happen the night.
Since our readership will have realized the locality takes the name of the castle or palace that it has in the good conservation state.
Of Palaces we continue our route up to Castro - ground de la Valduerna where we recommend to do a brief stop to visit the Sanctum of the Virgin of Castrotierra, built between the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries. There, in his interior, the venerated one is in peregrinations from The Bañeza and diverse peoples of our region, Romanesque size that dates of the XIIIth century, popularly known as the Virgin of Castrotierra.
After this stop we direct to San Mamés of the Vega, entry door from the National VI to The Bañe Bañe-za za, step place for ourselves formerly of a Roman roadway.
And we come to our city, average point of this trip, place of stop and small restaurant undoubtedly, for all that tourist who wants profudizar a little in his visit to our region. And the fact is that from The Bañeza, after seeing everything what this city can offer you, there can be tackled multiple and interesting tourist routes about which we will speak next. The Bañeza is not only that it is an average point between Astorga and Benavente. Also it is an average point between Madrid and Corunna, so it has always been a suitable enclave of stop and relay [many tall chiefs in his displacements between these last two capitals were stopping in our city to eat, for example], and the orígen TV/radio commercial of The Bañeza also is influenced by his strategic situation like neuralgic point in an important ways crossing. From The Bañeza you will be able to tackle other excursions towards cardinal León, Valencia of Don Juan, Órbigo, Moorland, the vales of the Eria and of the Jamuz and we even will be able to penetrate into the Vidriales regions and we even propose another big tourist route to you for the whole day towards the lake of Sanabria (but about these new excursions we will speak further on. Now we recommend you, if you still have not done it, to lodge you in The Bañe Bañe-za za to happen several days so that you know this historical city and his beautiful region)
The Bañeza is surrounded with rivers: we have crossed the Duerna coming from San Mamés of the Vega for the so called ‘bridge of the queen’ on the N-VI. Little further down, on the area of the winter swimming pools of The Bañe Bañe-za za, the Duerna ends in the One-eyed river, which is the one that we will cross for the ‘bridge of Requejo’ to go to León, Moorland or Órbigo. The Injury is the river that happens next to the municipal summer swimming pools (that we recommend to you you visit also especially if you travel with children, to enjoy these warm summer days). At a height of «City Missionary», in the N-VI, the Injury comes together in the river Órbi-go, which is that we will cross in our route continuation towards the zamorana city of Benavente.
Going out of The Bañeza we recommend to do a small stop to you in St Martin of Towers, where in Roman epoch the 'mansio' Bedunia was placed, in whose area there have been abundant remains of the Iron Age, Roman and medieval. More on the south we will spend for the localities eminently agricultural Cebrones del Río and Saint John of Towers.
Returning to The Bañeza we recommend to you to take the LE-114 towards Saint Helena and Villanueva de Jamuz whom we included in the following route (more brief) - «route of the cas
tillos»-. Villanueva still preserves the remains of the Castle of Pieces of land, of the XVth century, which has been acquired by an individual for housing (in that of Palaces also a person lives), and thanks to it it is being restored.
Further on we are the locality of Quintana of the Frame, in the fertile plain of the river Jam'úz, which in Roman epoch was an important enclave. The marble bust attracts attention atribuído of the Emperor Marco Aurelio, who is in the tower of his parochial Church, and who is met popularly like ‘San Pedro‘. His palace Castle of the Pieces of land - counts of Moon is of the XVth century and it presents an interesting tower of the homage (he explains one of the tourist triptyches of the Meeting).
We will continue the route for La Nora of the Rio, locality, along with Navianos of the Vega, where it crosses, towards the north, the Real Way, which comes up to The Bañeza (Navia - nos, more next to The Bañeza that La Nora, it does not catch from us in the same LE-114 but in a back road like the one that Jiménez joins with Saint Helena, that VI comes up to the N).
Our itinerary nevertheless continues up to the town of Alija del Infantado, place where, as we did in Palaces, recommended stop and relay since it has much that to see. Populated in the Roman epoch It Unloads of the Infan-tado flyleaf, for the tourist interested by the architecture, numerous monuments as there are his church of San Veri-simo, of Gothic features with front of the XVIth century, or that of San Esteban, of Renaissance style with a panelled ceiling of the XVIth century, although without place to doubt the most interesting building is the castle of the Dukes of the Infantado, of the XVth century.
To few kilometers of Alija is the famous Bridge of the Vizana. The «Route of the Silver» crosses it. Numerous flocks of sheep in trashumancia have passed for the same one, and the fact is that we are speaking about a historical way, about the Real Gully or Gully of The Vizana. The current bridge is of the XVIth century, although his orígen is of the epoch of the Romans.
Our route comes already to his end and we head again for the National VI, that highway on that we tread at our arrival to The Bañeza or in our brief excursion to St Martin of Towers. Way of this highway still has us to pass for Maire de Castroponce, The Tower and Pobla-Lasts of the Vale, with his typical wine vaults and excellent wines. We are already in the província of Zamora when, before concluding this route (I plan II) for the «Route of the Silver», we will turn aside towards Villabrázaro. The ancient Brigeco, capital of the tribe astur of the brigaezinos that fought against the Romans is in Sources of Ropel.
Our route from Astorga-La Bañeza-Benavente finishes in the latter city, place of enormous strategic importance during the Middle Age, something that you will understand perfectly when you visit it. Walled city was repopulated by the from Leon kings from the XIIth century, epoch of which they date back several to his important historical buildings like the castle, the Romanesque churches of Saint John of the Market and Sta. Mª of Mercury. Of Benaven - te not to go without visiting the Lookout of The Mote, today turned into National State-run hotel.

ROUTE FOR THE BAD-TEMPERED ONE
This region, which turns out to be extremely accessible from our city,
it was before the arrival of the Romans a mastery of the astures, frontier
with the Celtic tribes of Gallicia. After the Roman occupation and up to
fall of the empire, the mountains cabreiresas produced tons of gold
and they were furrowed by channels that were taking the water up to The Marrows and
that constitute one of the biggest works of civil engineering of
Romans that today we can still admire in the middle of a nature almost
virgin. Neither more nor less than 300 km of channels. His peoples offer one
unitary structure scarcely shaken, forming sets especially
attractions as Trabazos, which appears before us as a rural nucleus
authentically medieval, exceptional in our province.

ROUTE OF THE RIVERS
The route that we propose to them, it continues the river bed of the rivers bañezanos and
Órbigo begins below to take us to the Roman Cebrones bridge
of the Rio and to that of the Vizana, finishing the route in Alija del Infantado.
Injury, with this only milestone that is the Church of Santa Colomba of
Vega with his Mudejar panelled ceiling, the reredos of that of Huerga of
Garaballes, of some outstanding pupil of Snapdragon, and the full vitality
of traditions of Santibáñez of the Island. Let's not forget the route of the Duerna,
with his forts prerromanos and the high incomparable places of
Priaranza already almost in the hillside of the Teleno. Also in her, Destriana,
with the echoes of the from Leon monarchy. In the route of the Jamúz there is not that
to forget the center Jiménez potter, the Villanueva castles and
Quintana of the Frame. The Eria, anyway, being born in The Bad-tempered one, in whose
trip we will meet peoples as Castrocalbón ó San
Esteban de Nogales.

Route of the castles
HER Valdería/Valdejamuz

Departing from The Bañeza today we propose to you, for the lovers of the history, the «route of the castles», a short itinerary that will put to his scope the visit of those peoples of our regions that, for his importance, were an establishment of important masters of other times, as the Bazán, the Pieces of land, the Moon, or the Pimentel, who raised for his particular residence beautiful castles of those that they will be able to admire and recall the nostalgia that the time has not been capable of taking.

Palaces of the Valduerna
Earlier we have already spoken about the castle of Palaces of the Val-duerna, which we included in the route «Route of the Silver», so if you have already done this itinerary you can skip the visit to this one first of six enclaves that we are going to quote you. Of the castle of the Bazán of Palaces of the Valduerna, only I can only mention that it was built by Juan González de Bazán, who at present is a housing, and who has been restored by his current owner. On the first Sunday of August in the evening his gardens receive a cultural - literary act that assembles important writers of the whole state and lover of the poetry. The act is named «Poetry for martins» - a bird that flies over our region - and there serves as ceremony of delivery of the National Award of Literature organized by the Official Chronicler of The Bañeza, D. Conrado Blanco González, in memory of his father, D. Conrado Blanco León, award that takes nearly two decades being celebrated.

Jiménez of Jamuz - Castrocalbón
Going out from The Bañeza for the avenue of Portugal (cemetery), in the rotunda of the A-6 we will take the LE-110 direction to Jiménez de Jamuz, locality where I am going to recommend to you to do a high place in the way to visit some of his famous stoves potters. Jiménez is famous for his handmade production of the mud. Half a dozen went so far as to be provided with 200 potters of those who today stay. In addition to the potteries he has a museum of the mud, the pottery museum, where in addition to the multiple pieces in exhibition you will be able to attend how a vessel is done artesanalmente, thanks to the live exhibitions of one of two potters in charge of the museum. Pottery Museum. open sea M-D. of 10 to 14h. and of 17 to 19h. Tf: 987 66 44 88
Of Jiménez to add that his pottery that was used by Antonio Gaudí to decorate the arches of doors and vaults of the Episcopal Palace of Astorga (to see photos page 32), and to say that the locality possesses a reservoir where piragüísmo tests are celebrated, and in addition to particular wine vaults the turned one into restaurant - «The Caprice» - ideal place not only to visit, but to taste all kinds of plates, between which we recommend the rich meats to the ember.
We continue our trip up to Castrocalbón, in gift
of podremos to see the second castle of this route. Of the same one only an arch and a later wall survives with stones ashlars and wall of lime and singing known by the inhabitants of the area like ‘the thick wall’, and the castle as ‘the Palace’ - of fact the street that the same one takes even is called a street of the Palace-. It dates of the XIVth century. The place offers to the traveler a beautiful scenery since from the arch of the castle or the outline of the remains of his wall, where the deceased and famous local archaeologist Maximino Descosido found many antiquities, it can there turns the totality of the people, his grounds and the vale formed by the river Eria about which we will speak again in another route. Before the castle, further down, Mudejar finds the church of orígen (XIth and XIIIth centuries), today restored to a great degree. And in the same prairie of the castle it is possible to see the ancient chapel (XIIth century) where the Virgin of Castro is venerated. After her the beautiful «vale of the chestnut-trees» and to both hillsides the typical traditional wine vaults where artisan prepares the form wine for familiar consumption.
Not to leave the locality without happening earlier for the Archaeological and Ethnographic Museum (MAEC) eregido in honor of the famous local archaeologist «Strong Maximino Descosido», where there keep many of the objects found by him and his groups of «Mission Rescues». Open MAEC. on Friday, Saturdays and Sundays of 10 to 14h. and of 16 to 20h. Tfno: 987 66 83 24 C / The Schools, 6 www.castrocalbon.es

Villanueva of Jamuz
The stately castle till not long ago godforsaken (cattle was keeping in him), has been rescued for a few years by an individual who is restoring it to turn it into his summer residence. The Stately castle of Diego Fernández of Pieces of land Count of Moon, father of Don Suero [about this personage we will speak then (pág. 32) as soon as us refiramos to Hospital of Orbigo, where there are celebrated at the beginning of June the famous Medieval Jousts of the «Honorable Step» that remember the historical exploit of the gentleman.
But returning to Villanueva and to his castle, which will be one day at least to the year opened to the public (for receiving helps of the Meeting), to say that it possesses a hollow tower of four apartments. In the entry door there is a pointed chairs arch and, on him, a board with the weapon of The Pieces of land.
Fortaleza of thick walls of stone, surrounded by wall of three buckets with yaritones, saeteras and loopholes. An airy turret shows the shields of The Pieces of land and Moon.

It unloads of the Infantado
Tourist information office of Alija del Infantado. Tfno: 987 66 75 31
Following the route of the castles (in Jiménez de Jamuz you can, before the bridge, take the highway of the right, which continues along with the river Jamúz and his reservoir of The Table, like short cut to come to Villanueva without having to return to The Bañeza - there is a highway (minor road asphalting that Jiménez joins with Saint Helena), which will lead us to giving to the LE-114 saving ourselves kilometers, time and a detour-) and after coming to Villanueva de Jamuz, we will advance for the same highway It even Unloads of the Infantado where we will see the castle of The Ponces, construído in the XIIIth century, although it is in the XVth century when the Dukes of the Infantado turn it into Castle - citadel of solid construction and elegant lines, in accordance with the prevailing fashion in the epoch. (photo on the previous page)
Museum Benigno Eiriz. Tfno: 987 66 75 31

Greet of Castroponce
To few kilometers of Alija we will find the locality of Saludes de Castroponce where his church parrroquial is built on the remains of an ancient castle. In his interior we will be able to see 14 stage painted to the oil of Flemish style.

Lagoon of Negrillos
We finish off the route for the castles of the region in the locality of Lagoon of Negrillos, where we can see his fortitude, which belonged to the Pieces of land, Counts of Moon.
The castle preserves several shields fixed in his tower there are coats of arms belonging to Diego Fernández of Pieces of land and Mrs Maria de Toledo.
Here Don Suero of Pieces of land moved back to rest after finishing the famous Jousts.


This region, which turns out to be extremely accessible from our city, was before the arrival of the Romans a mastery of the astures, frontier with the Celtic tribes of Gallicia. After the Roman occupation and up to the fall of the empire, the mountains cabreiresas produced tons of gold and they were furrowed by channels that were taking the water up to The Marrows and that constitute one of the biggest works of civil engineering of the Romans that today we can still admire in the middle of an almost virgin nature. Neither more nor less than 300 km of channels.
His peoples offer a unitary structure scarcely shaken, forming sets especially attractive like Hobble - zos, which appears before us as an authentically medieval, exceptional rural nucleus in our province.

Route of the Rivers
to last route route that we propose to them continues the river bed of the rivers bañezanos and Órbigo begins below to take us to the Roman bridge of Cebrones of the Rio and to that of the Vizana, finishing in Alija del Infantado.
The One-eyed river, with this only milestone that is the Church of Santa Colomba of the Vega with his Mudejar panelled ceiling, the reredos of that of Huerga de Garaballes, of some outstanding pupil of Snapdragon, and the vitality full of traditions of Santibáñez of the Island offers us other places worth seeing. And let's not forget the route of the Duerna, with his forts prerromanos and the high incomparable Priaranza places already almost in the hillside of the Teleno. Also in her, Destriana, with the echoes of the monarchy leone
sa. In the route of the Jamúz it is not necessary to forget the center potter of Jiménez and the castles of Villanueva and Quintana of the Frame.
The last one of the rivers that we propose to them to visit is the Eria that is born in The Bad-tempered one, in whose trip we will meet peoples like Trout, Castrocontrigo (locality where we can stop to see the Museum of the Chocolate), Nogarejas, Pinilla, Fechechares (to see the historical hayricks), San Félix of the Valdería, Roadway, Castro-calbón ó San Esteban of Walnuts, where today there can still be seen the remains of the Real Monastery of Santa Maria of Walnuts.
(In Copse of the Vega, next to The Bañeza, they inaugurated this 2007 the museum World Fly, undoubtedly an important stop for the fans of the fishing).

ROUTES / EXCURSIONS

NEARBY LOCALITIES

ASTORGA
The Roman Astorga-asturica August - establishment in the Ist century a.d. C. of Legio X and in 15 a.d. C. of that of Octavio Augusto (who named the city), tie
ne a Cathedral worth (1.471) visiting. Opposite to which the little known one erects at national level work of Gau-dí - the people only usually know his works arquitectóni
cos of Barcelona - «The episcopal palace» (both, fail
dral and palace, they have a museum for which it is possible to acquire cotogether entry).
After the palace to visit the wall, his Roman door.
Also on deserve special interest for the tourist the Biggest Square his Town hall (XVIIth century) of baroque style acts of Francisco de la Lastra and the clock of the maragatos.

MOORLAND ORBIGO

It is worth going to see the regions of the Moorland and of the Órbigo. Both are crossing the bridge of Requejo de La Bañeza and going out in direction of León. If you turn to the right you will enter Requejo of the Vega (locality that offers you a nice baths area along with the river, in the so called place of the ‘Bridge Paulón’. Parkings, equipped area of lawn and black poplars for the motorhome one, and refreshment stall (it is a very popular area in The Bañeza) and the river for fishermen.
Following the highway Irrigation channels are to the right, to the left Villazala, at the head Valdefuentes of the Moorland, Santa Maria of the Moorland (big agricultural extension where thanks to the marsh the moorland transformed in irrigation where there is cultivated big quantity of hectares of corn). To emphasize the churches of these localities, the historical river bed of the Detainee Cerrajera, and the holidays on having finished the summer of Santa Maria of the Moorland, beautiful population of 3.000 hab.
Going out of The Bañeza in direction of León crossing the same bridge but being still straight for the highway, we will meet Copse of the Vega; entry towards Huerga de Garaballes; and towards the front, kilometers further on, the big locality of Veguellina de Orbigo that prospered thanks to the sugar factory (today closed), future plant of biofuels. The locality has railroad and swimming pools and big holidays and the Fair of the Garlic (middle of July).
Further on, to the crossing already with the N-120, we will meet the locality of Hospital of Orbigo (camping, swimming pools) that still preserves historical buildings, streets and cobbled squares. Hostel of pilgrims (let's remember that for her the Milky Way happens, Hospital tie
ne a gentlemen's big past and medieval jousts that he recalls every year the first weekend of June under his historical bridge on the river Orbigo, recreating the exploits of Don Suero of Pieces of land.
The holiday that is provided with Celtic music, medieval dinner, parade of torches, medieval market and the proper Jousts between other acts, attracts the people of the whole world and in the year 2007 it was provided with the presence of the Minister of Culture of Spain who dressed herself, as big part of the neighbors, in a medieval suit for the occasion.

VALENCIA OF DON JUAN

Following it previously so called «route of the castles» pdríamos to approach, already out of our region but to not too many kilometers of The Bañeza - approximately 35 km - to Valencia of Don Juan. The castle (in the image before the restoration), is one of nicer that can be seen in our surroundings, so he is worth visiting it, a little that can be done during one evening, going out without hurry, after eating, of The Bañeza. To turn towards the right (direction Santa Maria of the Moorland) and there to the right of new in the crossing of the center of Santa Maria (also it is possible to cross Santa Maria of the Moorland for his beltway: right, front and in the petrol station, to turn to the right - going-).
The castle is erected after the bridge, along with the river. Behind him there is a park. It is possible to park the just car facing the castle.
The locality of Valencia of Don Juan, capital of the region coyantina, he has also a few playful-sports interesting facilities and aquatic free time in a complex to another side of the river (before coming to the castle), where there are two children tobo
gain of water (in the Benavente swimming pools there is the higher one), one enclosure (type pipe: the black) and another open sea (the blue), both much entertained for the children and not so children. Undoubtedly the swimming pool is another ideal place to happen the evening.
(to see photo page 36)

TO THE LAKE OF SANABRIA

At an hour of The Bañeza in car is the well-known Lake of Sanabria (Zamora). There are two routes to go to the above mentioned region: the traditional one for the CL-622 (highway of Castrocontrigo), whose exit is already specially indicated in the exit of the divided highway A-6 of our city - the exit 303 that is the central exit of the three towards The Bañeza since coming from Madrid the first one is The Bañeza (for St Martin of Towers), the second one Bañeza-Puebla de Sanabria and the third one Ba-ñeza-Palacios de la Valduerna - in inverse order if you come from Corunna-. But today we are going to give you an alternative route and perhaps more comfortable to go to the Sanabria lake: in the rotunda of the exit 303 of the divided highway A-6 instead of taking the Castrocontrigo highway, taking that of Jiménez de Ja-muz-Castrocalbón-Camarzana of Tera. Recently tidy is a highway (LE-110) more straight (that is to say with less curves, which not kilometers, and it will take to a time saving in the trip). Past Castrocalbón, Whitewashed Source, Santibañez de Vidriales before to come to Ca-marzana to take the divided highway A-52 (popularly known as that of the Rias Baixas) direction to Gallicia and it is already, in approximately 45 minutes you will be in the lake respecting the speed limits and even in spite of the retentions that can begin being in the peoples of the area of the lake, crammed with tourists especially the weekends of July and August (if you do not want very much pother you can choose for one day between week).
We recommend to you to park as soon as you prune, although to eat to approach Ribadelago. I personally usually eat in the restaurants of Ribadelago Nuevo (before the population of Ribadelago Viejo). There are exquisite menus of the day that usually include fish (ej. trout) and pae
lla, for reasonable prices. The area possesses accommodations, camping, youth hostel in the locality of St Martin of Chestnut grove (situated on top of the lake towards the North), where from you will be able to enjoy a few magnificent conference on having set
the day - I rose to see the putting sun on the lake, and it is beautiful of admiring the west on the Sanabria lake from there to the high thing, from almost any curve of the highway-).
The Sanabria lake is a big lake formed by approximately 30 lagoons bathed by the river Tera, it lodges in his banks approximately 1.500 vegetable species. It has 3.178 m. of length (with several signposted beaches and of easy access), 51 m. of depth in his deepest area.
To buy we recommend to you to stop in Galende.
It is possible to go and to return from The Bañeza in the same day.

CARDINAL LEÓN
At least of one hour-49 km - (with the normal traffic it goes over well in 45 minutes), the capital of the província is: León. We have elected this city as a last destination point in our routes or excursions, since we believe that well he is worth dedicating a day, at least, to see the capital.
Of León it is much that to emphasize. We will start with that it is a step of the Milky Way (that is correctamen
you indicated in his ac you were with golden conches).
We cannot forget to visit the walls, the cathedral of León (Gothic style) with his beautiful shop windows (the most beautiful of Spain), the collegiate church of San isidoro, the Palace of Booties (I sedated today of Box Spain), and San Marcos, National State-run hotel of Tourism, his Biggest ancient Square.
Crossing the bridge of San Marcos I recommend to do a high place to you in the park Quevedo, a beautiful enclave where you will be able to contemplate numerous birds (of the ornithology society), in addition to the peacocks that walk freely free along the whole enclosure along with one without geese end, ducks, between others.
In the new area do not forget to visit the Contemporary Art museum - MUSAC-.

DAY AND NIGHT FREE TIME
Route of the covers

The Bañeza offers different types of diversions. According to tastes and according to ages, we can go away to dance, to go for a walk, to bathe, or to practise, before the lunches and the ce
na, the traditional "tapeo", something very typical in this area and that in fact is the whole social act in which there meet the family or the friends to go of bars to take short of beer (those that the Basques call zuritos here they are named ‘short of cane’) or wines. Also, if not you gus
ta the alcohol, they can be short of must.
We offer you next a list of bars in which it is possible to practise this of the tapeo. To add that the lid or spike is gratuíta (not to confuse spike or covers with rations), and also one usually gives to choose between three or four prepared ones for this day, what he invites to repeat round.
The list includes also restaurants, fritter shops and places of fast food where they give covers and wines.
And for that they like the night free time to see the list of pubs and discotheques (the last one, along with the Footbridge and times the Hearth of the Pensioner and the Circle - only for associates - offers the calm alternative of dances of lounge. And the Footbridge (crossing N-VI-ctra. León) also usually offers live music (he announces it in cartels).

SWIMMING POOLS
If you like the water we offer you four options in The Bañeza: two spa's (to see commercial directory), the swimming pools - of summer: photo Superior - or air-conditioned (left photo), and river (we recommend to you the area of baths of the bridge Paulón) to 5 min. for the Sta highway. Mª.