Les Alqueries facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
les Alqueries
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| les Alqueries/Alquerías del Niño Perdido | |||
Town Hall.
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 les Alqueries
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Valencian Community |
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| Province | Castelló | ||
| Comarca | Plana Baixa | ||
| Judicial district | Vila-Real | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 12.6 km2 (4.9 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 40 m (130 ft) | ||
| Population | |||
| • Total | 4,460 | ||
| • Density | 354.0/km2 (917/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Alqueriers | ||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
| Postal code |
12530
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| Official language(s) | Valencian and Spanish | ||
Les Alqueries is a town located in eastern Spain. It is found in the province of Castellón, which is part of the Valencian Community.
The main way people make a living here is through farming, especially growing oranges. Les Alqueries became its own independent town in 1985. Before that, it was part of a bigger town called Vila-real.
Contents
History of Les Alqueries
The area where Les Alqueries is located has been home to people for a very long time. People lived here even during the time of the Iberians, an ancient group in Spain. Les Alqueries used to be three smaller villages: Bellaguarda, Bonastre, and Bonretorn.
For many years, most people living in these villages were Muslims. But in 1609, many Muslim families had to leave Spain. After they left, new Christian families moved in. These new residents were often farmers from nearby villages like Artana, Betxí, Nules, and Vila-real. Some also came from other parts of the Kingdom of Valencia.
About 70 years after the Muslim families left, monks built a small church. This church became a meeting place for everyone in the area. Over time, this meeting point helped the three small villages come together. They became known as Les Alqueries, which means "the villages."
After the Christian conquest in the 13th century, Les Alqueries was part of the Vila-real municipality. However, in 1985, the Valencian government made a special decision. This decision allowed Les Alqueries to become its own independent town.
Today, Les Alqueries has over 4,200 people living there. Since the year 2000, the town has grown a lot. It is now a quiet and pleasant place to live.
Exploring Les Alqueries
Les Alqueries is located on a flat area near the coast. It is about 9 kilometers (about 5.6 miles) from the Mediterranean Sea. The land around the town is mostly covered with orange trees, making for a beautiful view. You can also clearly see the Serra d'Espadà mountain range from the village, which is an important protected natural area.
Interesting Places to Visit
There are a few interesting spots to see in Les Alqueries:
- Town Hall (Casa Safont): This is the main building for the town's government. It is a beautiful building built in a style called Modernist.
- La Plaça de les Pedres: This is a town square. Here, you can see the old parts of a Roman mill. It's a cool way to see history right in the middle of town!
Culture and Festivals
Les Alqueries celebrates two main festivals each year. These happen in June and October.
The October festival has a special event called Bous al carrer. This means "bulls on the street." It is a traditional event where bulls are let out into the streets for people to watch.
Twin Towns
Les Alqueries has a special friendship with another town:
Sassello, Italy
See also
In Spanish: Alquerías del Niño Perdido para niños
