La Roda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Roda
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Castile-La Mancha |
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| Province |  Albacete |
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| Judicial district | La Roda is the legal district no. 5 of its province. | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 398.88 km2 (154.01 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(2023)
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| • Total | 15,542 | ||
| Demonym(s) | Rodense, rodeño/-a (Spanish) | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
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La Roda is a town in Spain. It is located in the Province of Albacete. This province is part of the Castile-La Mancha region. La Roda is an important place because it sits along the A-31 highway. As of 2023, about 15,542 people live here. The town is very famous for its special pastry called miguelitos. It is also part of the wider La Mancha region.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name "La Roda" might have two different origins. One idea is that it comes from an Arabic word, rutba. This word means "a place where taxes were collected on animals." Another idea is that it comes from the Arabic word rubṭ. This word means "mounted patrol." Over time, this word changed into robda in Spanish, which then became La Roda.
Where is La Roda?
La Roda is in the northern part of the Province of Albacete. It's a key spot for travel between central Spain and the eastern coast, known as the Spanish Levante. The main highways, like the A-31, pass through here. The town is about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from the city of Albacete.
The land around La Roda is mostly flat. This is typical of the La Mancha Alta Albaceteña region. The town is 716 meters (2349 feet) above sea level. Some areas to the southwest are higher, reaching over 850 meters (2788 feet).
| Northwest: Casas de Haro | North: Pozoamargo, Casas de Benítez | Northeast: Fuensanta |
| West: Villarrobledo, Minaya |  |
East: Tarazona de La Mancha |
| Southwest: Lezuza, Munera | South: Barrax, Albacete | Southeast: Montalvos, La Gineta |
A Look at History
People have lived in the area of La Roda for a very long time. It has always been a place where different paths crossed. Archaeologists have found ancient items from the Celtiberians and Romans here.
In 1305, King Ferdinand IV gave the land to Saúl García Nesta. This made La Roda part of the Lordship of Alarcón. The town's borders were set in 1310 by Don Juan Manuel. Later, La Roda was part of the Marquisate of Villena. But in 1476, it joined the lands ruled directly by the Catholic Monarchs.
During the Renaissance period, La Roda grew a lot. This growth can still be seen in the town's beautiful old buildings and art.
How Many People Live Here?
The population of La Roda is 15,542 people, according to numbers from 2023.
| Vertical bar chart demographic of La Roda between 1842 and 2021 |
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EasyTimeline 1.90
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| 1900 | 1910 | 1920 | 1930 | 1940 | 1950 | 1960 | 1970 | 1981 | 1991 | 1996 | 2001 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7066 | 7938 | 9185 | 10,487 | 11,602 | 12,274 | 12,190 | 11,663 | 12,287 | 12,938 | 13,523 | 13,793 | 14,881 | 16,300 | 15,868 | 15,748 | 15,527 |
La Roda's Economy
For a long time, La Roda was mainly an farming town. But now, its economy focuses more on factories and services.
The chemical industry is very important here. Many factories make paints. This is because the area has "white earth" deposits. This raw material is used to make paints and other coatings.
The food industry also plays a big role. Companies here make traditional La Mancha products. These include local wines and cheeses. La Roda is also the only town that makes the torta cenceña. This is a special flatbread used in a dish called gazpachos manchegos.
The transport business has grown a lot. This is because of La Roda's location. Many important roads pass through the town.
La Roda is also a busy place for shopping. People from nearby towns often come here to buy things.
Getting Around La Roda
La Roda is a major transport hub in southeastern Spain. It connects important roads like the AP-36 and the A-31 highway. The national highway N-301 also goes through the town.
For train travel, La Roda is on several key lines. These include routes connecting to Madrid, Albacete, Murcia, Cartagena, Valencia, and Alicante.
Historic Buildings and Sites
The old part of La Roda was named a Conjunto histórico (a protected historic site) in 1973. This means it has many important old buildings and art. The old town has narrow streets and charming squares. Many houses have old family symbols, called coats of arms.
Important places to see include the Church of El Salvador. It was built in the Spanish Renaissance style. The Doña Ana wall is another impressive building. The Alcañabate House is a 17th-century building where Teresa of Ávila once stayed. Other notable buildings are the House of the Inquisitor, the House of General Latorre, the House of Doctor La Encina, and the House of the Countess of Villaleal.
The old buildings often have old doorways, Gothic arches, and beautiful iron railings.
The Camino de Santiago
La Roda is part of the famous Camino de Santiago. This is a network of ancient pilgrim routes. Specifically, La Roda is on the Camino de Santiago de Levante. This route starts in Valencia and goes to Zamora. From Zamora, it connects to another major pilgrim path. The route passes through several towns in the province of Albacete, including La Roda.
Delicious Food of La Roda
La Roda is most famous for its traditional pastry called miguelitos. These are sweet treats made with light, flaky pastry and a creamy custard filling. You can also find chocolate miguelitos, but the classic ones are more popular.
Many dishes use Game meat, like gazpacho manchego and caldo moreno. Another hearty dish is atascaburras, which is often eaten on snowy days. Migas ruleras are also popular, served with grapes, chorizo, or crispy pork belly.
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Some families still follow the tradition of the pig slaughter. This provides ingredients for sausages, black pudding, and pork loin. During this season, typical dishes include gachas de almortas and ajo mataero. A sweet dessert called migas de niño often follows.
Lighter options include pisto manchego and moje de pimientos. Both are made with peppers and tomatoes. Finally, don't forget the local lamb, cheeses, and wines from the region.
Festivals and Fun Events
La Roda has many exciting festivals throughout the year!
- Pilgrimage of the Virgen de los Remedios: In mid-May, people carry a statue of the Virgin Mary from a nearby town called Fuensanta to the Church of El Salvador. The statue stays in La Roda for three weeks. Then, it is carried back to its sanctuary in early June.
- Fiestas de El Salvador: These are the town's main celebrations. They last for nine days at the beginning of August. There are many events, like literary readings, flower parades, bullfights, dances, and concerts. You can also enjoy theater, folk music, and sports. Many social clubs, called peñas, take part in these festivities. In 2010, there were 78 such clubs!
- Carnival: This colorful festival is recognized as a Regional Tourist Interest.
- Holy Week: The events during Holy Week are also very important and declared of Regional Tourist Interest.
- Other Festivities: The town also celebrates San Antón and San Isidro. Different neighborhoods have their own events to honor their patron saints.
- Festival de los Sentidos: This is a food and music festival held every year in the second weekend of June. It started in 2008 and now attracts over 10,000 people!
Famous People from La Roda
Tennis player Guillermo García López is from La Roda. So is David Castro, who is a triathlon runner.
Images for kids
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Milepost from the Roman period
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See also
In Spanish: La Roda (Albacete) para niños
