Ejea de los Caballeros facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ejea de los Caballeros
Exeya d'os Caballers (Aragonese)
|
||
---|---|---|
Church of the Saint Savior
|
||
|
||
Nickname(s):
Ejea
|
||
Country | ![]() |
|
Autonomous community | ![]() |
|
Province | Zaragoza | |
Comarca | Cinco Villas | |
Villages | Ejea de los Caballeros, Bardenas, El Bayo, El Sabinar, Farasdués, Pinsoro, Rivas, Santa Anastasia, Valareña | |
Government | ||
• Type | Mayor–council | |
• Body | Ayuntamiento de Ejea de los Caballeros | |
Area | ||
• Total | 609.92 km2 (235.49 sq mi) | |
Elevation | 318 m (1,043 ft) | |
Population
(2018)
|
||
• Total | 16,605 | |
• Density | 27.2249/km2 (70.5121/sq mi) | |
Demonyms | ejeano (m), ejeana (f) | |
Postal code |
50600
|
Ejea de los Caballeros (also called Ejea) is a town and a municipality in Spain. It is located in the province of Zaragoza, which is part of the Aragon region. Ejea is one of the five main towns in an area known as the Cinco Villas (meaning "Five Villages"). The other towns are Sos del Rey Católico, Uncastillo, Sádaba, and Tauste.
Ejea became part of the medieval Kingdom of Aragon in 1105. This happened during the Reconquista, a time when Christian kingdoms were taking back land from Muslim rule in Spain.
Contents
Exploring Ejea de los Caballeros
Ejea de los Caballeros has many old buildings from the Middle Ages. These buildings show the town's long history.
Historic Churches to Visit
- The church of Santa María de la Corona is an old church built in the Romanesque style. It was updated in 1649 and 1650.
- The church of San Salvador mixes Romanesque and Gothic styles. It has a beautiful entrance from the 1500s with old sculptures.
- The church of our Lady the Virgin of the Olive (Nuestra Señora la Virgen de la Oliva) was rebuilt in 1765. It stands on the site of an even older medieval building.
Villages of Ejea
The municipality of Ejea de los Caballeros includes nine different communities. These are like smaller towns or villages that are part of the main Ejea area.
Main Population Centers
- Ejea de los Caballeros
- Bardenas
- El Bayo
- El Sabinar
- Farasdués
- Pinsoro
- Rivas
- Santa Anastasia
- Valareña
How New Villages Were Formed
Rivas and Farasdués are two historic villages that have been connected to Ejea for many years. The other six villages were built more recently, in the 1950s and 1960s. These new villages were created to help people settle and farm the land. This was possible because of the Yesa Reservoir and the Bardenas irrigation channel. These projects brought water to the area, allowing farmers to grow crops.
Local Culture and Festivals
Ejea de los Caballeros has several special events and festivals throughout the year.
Main Local Celebrations
The biggest local festival honors the Virgin of the Olive. She is considered the town's local saint. In June, there is also a medieval celebration for Saint John the Baptist, who is another patron saint of the town.
The Vote Day Festival
Another important local festival is called The Vote Day. It happens every year on January 14. This day remembers a time during the Black Plague (a terrible sickness long ago). The townspeople voted to bring the statue of the Virgin of the Olive through the town to pray to her. People believe that the plague ended in Ejea on that very day.
Famous People from Ejea
- Alberto Zapater – a professional footballer
- Alberto Soro – a professional footballer who plays for Granada CF
- Artistas del Gremio – a popular brass band
Twin Towns
Ejea de los Caballeros is "twinned" with two other towns. This means they have a special friendship and often share cultural events.
Marmande, France
Portogruaro, Italy
See also
In Spanish: Ejea de los Caballeros para niños