Gascas de Alarcón facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gascas de Alarcón
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Town in Spain
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Alarcón Dam, at the head of the reservoir.
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| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous Community | Castile-La Mancha |
| Province | Cuenca |
| Comarca | Manchuela Conquense |
| Founded | 13th century |
| Demonym(s) | Gasqueño (Spanish) |
Gascas de Alarcón was once a town in Spain, located in the Province of Cuenca. It was flooded to create the Alarcón Reservoir, a large artificial lake. Construction of this reservoir happened between 1946 and 1970. Farmers from Valencia wanted the reservoir to help control the flow of the Júcar River, which was very important for their farms.
When the water level in the reservoir drops, you can still see parts of the old town. You might spot traces of streets and walls. There's also a stone wall with an arch, which was once part of a private home. A small stream called the Gascas, which used to flow near the town and into the Júcar River, is now also under the reservoir's waters.
Gascas was a riverside town, and it was one of the few places in the province with irrigated farmland. This meant they used water from the Gascas stream and Júcar River to grow crops. Because their economy depended on this, the use of water for irrigation was carefully managed for each piece of land. The fresh fruits and vegetables grown here were sold in other communities across the province.
History of Gascas
Gascas was built on the left bank of the Júcar River. It seems the town got its name from its first settlers, who were Gascons from France. These Gascons had followed Eleanor of England to the area. Eleanor was the daughter of Eleanor of Aquitaine and the wife of Alfonso VIII of Castile. She held her royal court for a time in the city of Cuenca, which had recently been conquered.
Since 2010, a special yearly festival is held in Olmedilla de Alarcón. This event takes place on the first Saturday of August. It honors the former residents of Gascas and their families. This tradition started when a monument was placed on the shore of the reservoir, at the spot closest to the old town. Now, officials from Olmedilla help support this festival.
See also
In Spanish: Gascas de Alarcón para niños
