Salinas del Manzano facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Salinas del Manzano, Spain
Flag Coat of arms
Salinas del Manzano Location in Castilla-La Mancha
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Castile-La Mancha
Province	Cuenca
Municipality	Salinas del Manzano
Area
• Total	33 km2 (13 sq mi)
Population  (2018)
• Total	81
• Density	2.45/km2 (6.36/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+1 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+2 (CEST)

Salinas del Manzano is a small town in Spain. It is located in the Province of Cuenca within the Castile-La Mancha region. The town covers an area of about 33 square kilometers and had a population of 81 people in 2018.

Where is Salinas del Manzano?

Salinas del Manzano is a mountain town. You can find it in the eastern part of the Serrania de Cuenca mountains. It's also very close to the border of Valencia's Corner Ademuz area. The Cabriel River flows through the town's land.

The town is near the Henarrubia River. This river flows into the Mill River, which then joins the Cabriel River. The Cabriel River eventually flows into the Júcar River.

The main road to Salinas del Manzano is the N420. This road connects the cities of Córdoba and Tarragona. It goes right through the middle of the town! Salinas del Manzano is about 82 kilometers from Cuenca and 67 kilometers from Teruel.

What Can You See in Salinas del Manzano?

Salinas del Manzano has some cool places to visit:

• Nativity Church: A historic church in the town.
• San Roque y Pósito Chapel: Another important religious building.
• Castle of Malenas: An old fortress with a long history.
• Hiking trails: You can explore more than 20 natural springs in the area.
• Roman Saltworks: Ancient places where salt was collected.

The area around Salinas del Manzano is very beautiful. You can explore the Serrania de Cuenca, the Montes Universales, and the Cabriel River.

It's a great idea to visit during the San Roque festivities. These celebrations happen on August 16th each year.

Explore the "Las Alcobas del Salín" Museum

Want to learn about how people used to live in this area? Visit the "Las alcobas del Salín" Museum! It shows what life was like in the past in Salinas. You'll see old tools and equipment used in homes.

You can visit the museum during the opening hours of the City Council and the local library.

A Journey Through Time: History of Salinas del Manzano

Salinas del Manzano has a long and interesting history.

The oldest name for the area was "La fuente del Manzano." This name was mentioned in a letter from Infante Don Sancho in 1281. The letter asked people who used the salt flats to pay what they owed.

Salt has been important here for a very long time. The first written records about the salt flats, known as "El Salero," are from 1187. King Alfonso VIII of Castile gave the right to collect salt taxes to the church of Santa Maria Basin. Some historians think a Roman settlement called Albonica was near these salt flats. "Albonica" might even mean "white salt flats."

The Castle of Malenas

In the 10th century, the fortress of Malenas (also called Magdalena) was built. It was built by Muslims during their rule. Between the 11th and 12th centuries, this castle was part of a defense line. It helped protect the area between different Muslim kingdoms. The castle is on a rocky hill with caves. It overlooks a large area and an important old road.

Christian Conquest and Repopulation

The area was taken from the Arabs between 1176 and 1183. King Alfonso VIII then brought new people to live here. These people came from places like Leon, Astorga, and Burgos. They helped create the town known as "Fuente del Manzano."

In 1231, the borders between the church areas of Cuenca and Albarracin were set. Because of this, Salinas became part of Cuenca. Before, it had been part of Moya.

Later History

• In 1443, Salinas was a royal village. This meant it paid taxes directly to the King. Later, it belonged to different noble families.
• On June 27, 1505, many villages, including Salinas, belonged to the Marquis of Moya.
• In 1513, a man from Salinas named Juan Lopez traveled to Peru. He was looking for a new life. Many other people from Salinas also went to America with the Spanish explorers.
• By 1587, Salinas and a nearby town had about 320 people.
• In April 1809, French soldiers arrived in Salinas during a war. Local people formed groups in the mountains to fight back. They used simple tools like sickles and pitchforks as weapons. One of their leaders was known as "Uncle Peter."
• In 1833, Salinas del Manzano became part of the Cañete judicial district. It still belongs to this district today.
• In 1836 and 1839, there were battles near the Malenas castle during the Carlist Wars. Soldiers fought to control the fortress.
• In 1840, a general from the Carlist army punished a local resident for not helping to fortify a castle.
• In 1878, Salinas del Manzano had 421 people and about 50 houses.
• By January 1, 1995, the population was 136 people.

See also

In Spanish: Salinas del Manzano para niños