Menoio facts for kids
Menoio is a small village located in Álava, which is part of the Basque Country in Spain. It is also known as Menoyo. Menoio is one of 24 villages that belong to the larger area called the Ayala municipality.
The village sits on a mountain also named Menoio, which is 502 meters (about 1,647 feet) high. However, the village itself is a bit lower, at 466 meters (about 1,529 feet) above sea level. Menoio covers an area of about 409 hectares, which is roughly the size of 1,000 football fields!
Life in Menoio
The village is built in one main area. Within this area, you can find several smaller parts, or neighborhoods. These include Barrutxi, Butarte, Mendia, the Pico, and the main square. There used to be another neighborhood near Mount Eskoritas. Today, only the small church called the Hermitage of Our Lady of Etxaurren remains there. In 2015, Menoio had a population of 33 people.
A Look at History
People have lived in the Menoio area for a very long time. The oldest sign of human presence dates back to prehistoric times. In 1919, a very old stone monument was found. It is called the dolmen of the camps of Oletar. This monument was built around 2,500 years before Christ!
The village of Menoio itself has a history of at least 900 years. The first written record of Menoio is from the year 1114. In this old document, a person named Alvar López de Menoyo is mentioned. He was a witness to a gift of a monastery to a church.
Important Buildings
Menoio has some interesting old buildings. One is the Hermitage of Etxaurren, which is a historic small church. Another important building is the palace of Santa Casilda. In the center of the village, you can also find a medieval tower. These buildings show the long history of the village.
See also
- Álava
- Basque Country
- Spain
- Ayala (Álava)
- In Spanish: Menoyo para niños
