Fuencalderas (Aragon) facts for kids

Fuencalderas is a small village in Aragon, a region in Spain. It's located in an area called the Cinco Villas (which means "Five Villages") in the province of Zaragoza. For a long time, until 1975, Fuencalderas was its own independent town. Then, it joined with the nearby town of Biel to form a new municipality called Biel-Fuencalderas. Later, in 1996, Fuencalderas became a "Lower Local Entity" within that same municipality. This means it has some local control but is still part of a larger area. In 1998, the main municipality changed its name to just Biel.

Where is Fuencalderas?

Fuencalderas is in the northeast part of the Cinco Villas region in Aragon. It's located on the southern side of a mountain range called the Sierra of Santo Domingo. This mountain range is part of the Pre-Pyrenees, which are the foothills of the big Pyrenees mountains. The village is nestled between two rivers: the Gállego River to the east and the Arba de Biel River to the west. The whole area of Fuencalderas covers about 36 square kilometers.

You can reach the village by taking the A-1202 road, which goes from Ayerbe to Sádaba. Fuencalderas is about 6 kilometers from Biel, 18 kilometers from Santa Eulalia de Gállego, and 26 kilometers from Ayerbe. It's also about 55 kilometers from Huesca and 105 kilometers from Zaragoza.

The village itself sits at an altitude of 842 meters (about 2,762 feet) above sea level. However, the land around it varies a lot in height, from 650 meters (2,132 feet) at a place called "Chabastre" to 1,329 meters (4,360 feet) at "A Ralla d'as Pauletas."

A Look at History

The area where Fuencalderas is located was taken over by Aragonese Christians in the 10th century. However, the name "Fonte Calderas" (meaning "Hot Source") wasn't mentioned until 1137. This was in a document from King Ramiro II "The Monk" of Aragon. After the conquest, a defense tower was built in a spot called "Pacatorre." The village of Fuencalderas slowly grew around this protective tower.

Interestingly, Fuencalderas might have connections to an older town called Liso (sometimes spelled "Eliso"). Liso was about 10 kilometers north of Fuencalderas and might have even had Roman beginnings. It was first mentioned in documents way back in the year 938. From the 10th to the 12th centuries, Liso was a very important part of the defensive line for the Kingdom of Aragon. It was even known as the "Burgh of Liso." Fuencalderas, at that time, was much smaller.

But things changed! From the 13th to the 15th centuries, Liso began to decline, while Fuencalderas grew stronger. This was because Fuencalderas was in a more favorable location. Finally, in 1530, the main church for the area was moved from Liso to Fuencalderas.

The history of Fuencalderas is part of the larger history of the Kingdom of Aragon and, later, of Spain.

In 1936, a difficult period began in Spain, leading to the Spanish Civil War. This conflict had sad consequences for some people in Fuencalderas. After World War II, a group of people who supported the Communist Party of Spain formed a "guerilla" group. This group was active in the countryside of Spain, including around Fuencalderas. Some people believe that Mariano Navarro from Fuencalderas, who had been an army lieutenant during the Civil War, was a member of this group, known as "El Tuerto of Fuencalderas" (The One-Eyed Man of Fuencalderas).

As mentioned, Fuencalderas was an independent municipality until 1975. That year, the Spanish government decided to combine it with the nearby town of Biel, creating Biel-Fuencalderas. However, when democracy returned to Spain, many local people wanted Fuencalderas to have more control over its own affairs again. So, in 1993, they started a process to become a "Local Entity of lower territorial scope." This was approved in 1996.

As a "Lower Local Entity," Fuencalderas has special responsibilities. It manages its own property and money. It also provides basic services directly to its residents. These include things like maintaining streets and country paths, local policing, street lighting, clean drinking water, sewage treatment, road cleanup, and trash collection. They also organize cultural and social activities. Fuencalderas also has its own mayor, who is chosen directly by the people living in the village.

How Fuencalderas is Governed

Fuencalderas has its own mayor, who is elected by the people who live there. This mayor helps manage the village and its services.

Population Changes

The number of people living in Fuencalderas has changed a lot over the years. In 1842, there were about 200 people. The population grew to almost 400 by the late 1800s. In the 1900s, the population slowly decreased, reaching about 102 people by 1970. After it merged with Biel, the numbers changed again, but Fuencalderas itself remains a small community.

Nature and Special Places

The natural surroundings of Fuencalderas are truly special! Because the area has such different heights, you can find a wide variety of trees, like old beech trees (some are hundreds of years old!), hollies, oaks, pine trees, and boxwoods. The animals are also diverse, including wild boars, deer, roe deer, and foxes. Part of the mountain area is even protected as a nature reserve for various birds.

Fuencalderas also has unique natural spots like "O Salto" and "O Terrerno Blanco" (which means "White Field"). You can find old archaeological remains and signs of past rural life, like old farmyards. There are also legendary places, such as "Pata de Pierrondán" ("Leg of Pierrondan"), and beautiful landscapes like the "Puente del Diablo" ("Fiend's Bridge"). You can also see the "peñas" (rock formations) of "Collas" and "Ferretes," the "Caloyo" cave, and the "Fayar" (beech forest). From some spots, you get amazing views of the famous "Mallos de Riglos" and "Mallos de Agüero" rock formations.

The center of the village dates back to the 14th century. It's known for its design, with many small squares connected by paths. The houses still look much like they did long ago, keeping their original charm.

The main church in the village is called Our Lady of the Esperanza (meaning "Hope"). It was built on top of an older church. Parts of the older building, like two chapels and the tower (likely from the 14th century), are still there. The church shows a mix of styles because it was built over a long time, but overall, it mostly looks like it's from the 16th century. The main part of the church is rectangular and has five chapels on the sides. Its roof, with rounded vaults, was probably added in the 18th century. The church tower has three bells and the village clock.

About 10 kilometers from the village, you'll find the Saint Michael's of Liso hermitage. This is believed to be where the old Liso village church once stood. The hermitage still has a Romanesque apse (a rounded part of the church) from the 12th century, which is separate from the main building. In the 17th century, after the old Liso village disappeared, the hermitage was rebuilt. It was given a Romanesque style, influenced by the architecture from Jaca, and included important old pieces like carved stone capitals, checkerboard patterns, and an Aragonese "crismon" (a special Christian symbol). Next to the hermitage are the remains of an even older defense tower. There's also a building called the "house of the recluse," built with stones from the old church. Today, this house is used by the Saint Michael Confraternity of Fuencalderas.

Holidays and Traditions

• September 29: This is Saint Michael's Day, who is the patron saint of the village. On Pentecost Sunday, there's a special trip (pilgrimage) to the Saint Michael's of Liso hermitage. (Before 1971, this pilgrimage was on May 8).
• December 18: This day celebrates the Virgin of the Esperanza (Hope).
• January 19: On the eve of Saint Sebastian's Day, people used to light bonfires.

Patron Saint

The patron saint of Fuencalderas is Saint Michael.

Village Symbols: Shield and Flag

In 2005, the government of Aragon officially approved the shield and flag for Fuencalderas:

• Shield: It's a rounded square shape. It has a blue background with a golden oak tree that has three roots. There's also a silver band with three black boilers (like cooking pots) on it – two at the top corners and one in the middle at the bottom. On top of the shield is a closed Royal Crown.
• Flag: It's a blue flag, two-thirds as wide as it is long. It has a yellow oak tree and a white band. In the corners of the flag, there are four black boilers.

Languages Spoken

The main languages spoken in Fuencalderas are Spanish and Aragonese.

Famous People from Fuencalderas

Some notable people who were born in Fuencalderas include:

• Damián Iguacén Borau (born February 12, 1916): He became a priest in 1941 and later served as a bishop in different areas of Spain, including Barbastro, Teruel-Albarracín, and Tenerife. He retired as an emeritus bishop in 1991 and was also a writer.
• Ernesto Navarro Castán (born July 25, 1934 – died August 10, 1963): He was a famous mountain climber and a pioneer of mountaineering in Aragon. He sadly passed away in Grindelwald, Swiss.

Local Foods

When you visit Fuencalderas, you might try some traditional dishes like:

• Herdsman's crumbs (Migas de pastor)
• Lamb cooked in the shepherd's style (Cordero a la pastor)
• Mushrooms
• Hunting dishes (like wild boar and deer)

Fun Activities and Sports

Fuencalderas is a great place for hiking because of its many paths and varied landscape. The famous Spanish long-distance footpath, GR-1, which goes across the Iberian Peninsula, passes through Fuencalderas. There are even guidebooks available for hiking in the mountains around Fuencalderas.

The village also has a "fronton" or "trinquet," which is a special wall court used for playing traditional ball games.

Fuencalderas has a very active community, especially considering its small size. The Saint Michael Confraternity of Liso in Fuencalderas has a long history, dating back to 1766! In 2000, it became a Cultural Association. By 2007, it had 370 members and has been publishing a regular newsletter called "Liso-Fuencalderas" since May 1971. This newsletter shares stories about the village's history, traditions, nature, and news related to the community.

See also

In Spanish: Fuencalderas para niños