Mondariz – Balneario facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Mondariz-Balneario Troncoso
Village and municipality
Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Region	Galicia
Province	Pontevedra
Comarca	O Condado
Municipality status	30 November 1924
Parish	Mondariz-Balneario
Government
• Type	Mayor–council
• Body	Concello da Moi Hospitalaria Vila de Mondariz Balneario
Area
• Total	2.4 km2 (0.9 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	618
• Density	258/km2 (667/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	mondaricense del Balneario

Mondariz-Balneario is a small, special town in Galicia, Spain. It's famous for its spa, where people come to relax and enjoy the natural spring water. This town is super tiny! It's the smallest municipality in Galicia and one of the smallest in all of Spain, covering only about 2.4 square kilometers.

Originally, this area was just a small part of the nearby town of Mondariz. But in the late 1800s, its water became very popular. People believed the water had special healing powers. Because of this, it grew into the well-known spa town we see today.

A Look Back: Ancient and Medieval Times

People have lived in the area of Mondariz-Balneario for a very long time. We know this from old things found by archaeologists. They found signs of a fort from prehistoric times. There are also remains from the Roman Empire, like amphorae (big jars), pottery, and old bronze coins. These finds show that Romans lived here too.

The best proof of Roman life is a piece of a Roman road. It's near the Cernadela bridge over the Tea River. This bridge is also from Roman times.

There's a cool story from the year 1282. It says that King Diniz of Portugal got married in a chapel here. He married Princess Isabella of Aragon. She was the daughter of Peter III. Later, she became known as Isabel of Portugal.

Modern History: How the Spa Town Grew

In 1835, Mondariz-Balneario was just a territory within the parish of Mondariz. A parish is like a small district. It was controlled by important families at that time.

Things started to change in 1904. The area became its own parish called Troncoso. It was still connected to Mondariz, but it was a step towards becoming independent.

Then, on November 30, 1924, something big happened. The parish changed its name to Our Lady of Lourdes. More importantly, it became its own independent municipality. This means it became a separate town with its own local government. The new name, Mondariz-Balneario, means "Mondariz-Spa Resort." This name shows how important the spa was to the town's growth. The spa brought in money and helped the town become independent from Mondariz.

The history of Mondariz-Balneario is very connected to a man named Don Sabino Peinador Enrique Vela. He helped make the Troncoso area a famous spa. Thanks to him, the town grew and became well-known.

On April 17, 1925, the town received a special title. King Alfonso XIII and General Primo de Rivera called it "Very hospitable villa." They gave this title because they liked how friendly the people were. They often visited the Grand Hotel in the town.

The Grand Hotel was a very important place. It opened in 1898. Many famous guests stayed there in the early 1900s. But after the Spanish Civil War, it started to decline. In 1973, a huge fire destroyed the hotel. It stayed in ruins for a long time.

Finally, in 2005, the Grand Hotel was rebuilt. Now it has private apartments. A new hotel and spa were built next to it. Today, Mondariz-Balneario is still one of the most important spa resorts in Galicia.

Places to See

See also

In Spanish: Mondariz-Balneario para niños