El Espino, Spain facts for kids
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El Espino is a tiny village in Spain. It is part of the Suellacabras area in the Castilla y León region. This village sits high up, about 1,264 meters (4,147 feet) above sea level. It's close to the Almuerzo mountain range. The weather here changes a lot. Winters are very cold, and summers can be quite hot. El Espino is in a region known as "Las Tierras Altas," which means "The High Lands." Nearby mountains include Matute (1,429 m) and Almuerzo (1,556 m).
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Who Lives in El Espino?
In 2006, only five people lived in El Espino. This small number is due to something called "rural exodus." Rural exodus means people move from the countryside to bigger cities. Many people started leaving El Espino in the 1960s. They moved to places like Zaragoza, Navarra, Vizcaya, Barcelona, or the nearby city of Soria.
Exploring El Espino's History
El Espino has some interesting old buildings.
San Benito Church
The main attraction in the village is the small San Benito church. It is a Romanesque church, built between the 12th and 13th centuries. Romanesque churches are known for their thick walls and round arches. This church was fixed up in the early 2000s.
Old Hermitages
There are also two old hermitages nearby. A hermitage is a small chapel or shrine. One is called Virgen del Espinar. The other, San Román, is now in ruins.
Ancient Village Remains
You can also find traces of a very old village. These are the remains of a Celtiberian "castro." A castro was a fortified village built by the Celtiberians. They lived in Spain long ago. These remains are at a spot called "Los Castillejos." They are from around the 6th century BC, which is about 2,600 years ago!
Life and Land in El Espino
The land around El Espino is used for farming. Farmers typically grow wheat, barley, and rye. However, the land does not produce a lot of crops. In the past, the village was also known for its livestock. People used to raise flocks of sheep and goats here.
Wind Power
In 2003, something new came to the mountains around El Espino. A windmill installation was built. These windmills use the wind to create electricity.
See also
In Spanish: El Espino (Soria) para niños
