Suarbol facts for kids
Suarbol is a small village located in the beautiful Los Ancares area of El Bierzo in León, Spain. It's very close to the border with Galicia. Suarbol and its neighbor, Balouta, are the last villages in León before you cross into the Lugo province of Galicia.
Today, Suarbol has only seven people living there all year round. But in the summer, the population grows to about 34 people! Most locals make a living by farming. Many people from Suarbol moved to Barcelona in the 1950s and 1960s. Even so, they still own their homes in the village and often return for holidays, especially in the summer.
The village's first name was Ambasaguas. This name means "surrounded by water." It makes sense because two rivers flow around the village: one at the entrance and another at the exit.
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Village History and Buildings
Suarbol is famous for its special traditional buildings. These include horreos and pallozas.
What are Horreos and Pallozas?
- Horreos are like small granaries. People used them to store grain and keep it safe from animals. In Suarbol, you can see horreos with square bases and roofs made of slate. They look a bit like the horreos found in Asturias.
- Pallozas are unique, oval-shaped houses. They are typical in Northern Spain. Suarbol was once known for having the biggest palloza in the Los Ancares area. Sadly, it burned down in 1957, but you can still see where it stood. Luckily, some other pallozas are still standing and can be visited today.
In the past, many building roofs in Suarbol were made of straw. These roofs were called teitos. However, most roofs today are made of slate. This is common in many towns and villages across the El Bierzo region.
The Parish Church
The most important building in Suarbol is its Parish Church. This church was built in the Baroque style. In 1995, the Spanish government declared it a Good of Cultural Interest. This means it's a very important historical and cultural site. What's unusual about this church is that the village graveyard is located inside the churchyard. This is not common in Spain.
Ancient Paths and Carvings
Suarbol also has other interesting historical sites. One is the Roman Causeway of Suarbol. This was an ancient path built by the Romans. It connected gold mines in Ibias (Asturias) to other gold mines in the El Bierzo region. You can also find some stone carvings in the village. These carvings date back to the Castro culture, an ancient Iron Age culture. No one knows exactly what these carvings mean!
Village Celebrations
The main festival in Suarbol happens on August 17th. It is held to honor the Virgin Mary.
See also
In Spanish: Suárbol para niños
- Candín
- Los Ancares
- El Bierzo
- Province of León
- Castile and León
