Altitude: 759 m
Population: 1050
(2006.Source INE)
Natives: Realeños.
The origin of the name of El Real is due to the camp or "real" created by Alfonso VIII in 1197 to assist Talavera or Toledo in the case of an attack by the Almohads, although there are other versions that point to an earlier era in which Alfonso VI uses "El Real" to take Toledo in 1080.
As town, there is no sign of its creation until 1400.
In 1631 it got the privilege of village, breaking with the City of Bayuela, head of Pajares, Hinojosa, Nuno Gomez, Garciotún and Marrupe. With this Letter of Village it could appoint their own mayors, manage their assets, and have territorial and fiscal independence from its capital.
The village privileges were obtained by payment to the King, provided the header village did not give a greater quantity to avoid the independence. It was not the case of El Real.
Town located between mountains in the foothills
of the Sierra de San Vicente, at the foot of the peaks of the Cabeza de
Oso (1101 m) and Canto Hituero (1,018 m).
The best way is to access by the highway NV till the exit of Castillo
de Bayuela. We take the CM-5002, crossing the mountains of Cardiel and
Castillo de Bayuela we will arrive to the town. It is also accessible
by bus.
PARISH CHURCH OF SANTA CATALINA:
(declared monument of cultural interest under Law 16/1985 of June 25 Spanish
Historical Heritage) Building from the XVII-XVIII century, Baroque style.
It has a nave divided into sections by pillars. Inside there are four
wooden polychrome sculptures of the eighteenth century, the work of Luis
Salvador Carmona, among which stands out for its beauty the Virgin of
Dolores.
SHRINE OF SAN NICASIO: From the twentieth century, it
is located in the park that receives the same name.
MILLS OF TEJEA: They are
on the Garganta de Tejea. Pre-industrial architecture that was in use
until the mid-twentieth century. Three of them have a small pond for storage.
All are of a single stone, except the fourth with two and which also had
two floors, the upper as a house and the lower as the mill.
FOUNTAIN OF VENERUELOS: (Monument included in the inventory
of regional heritage of the Province of Toledo) Fountain and watering
place of the seventeenth century. Baroque style. Built with large blocks
of stone, with a triangular pediment, drum and smooth cross crown. There
are 3 pipes that discharge to a long stone watereing place.
BATHS FOUNTAIN OF LA POLVORA: Until a few years ago it
was a spa where you could take cold and hot water baths with medicinal
properties qualifying for rheumatic diseases. Powder is the name given
by the smell it of the water. It began operations in mid-1900. It is currently
closed.
It is worth strolling the streets of the town that still retain the typical
mountain architecture.
During the 30s it came to exceed the figure of 2,200 inhabitants. Unlike other towns of the region, its population decline was staged, starting in the 50s, taking its most dramatic drop in the 80s when its population was below 1,000 people, which is slowly recovering now.
El Real de San Vicente reached over 10 water mills that were used to grind wheat. The payment of the mill could be in kind (a part of the ground wheat) or in cash.
In the municipality of El Real de San Vicente there remains a considerable
number of chestnut used even today by their owners.
February. Carnival Sunday. The soldiers.
September 15: Our Lady of Sorrows.
November 24: Fires of La Luminaria.
In virtually all the festivals celebrated in the region, visitors are
invited to eat and drink in order to enjoy even more the peculiarity
of these festivities.
Senda Viriato-GR 63:
Stages 14 and 15.
Talavera roads and trails, Sierra de San Vicente and La Jara: R20.
Phone Numbers
City Hall: 925 879 201
C. Doctor: 925 879 347
Pharmacy: 925 879 212
C. Internet: 10-14h (summer) and 16-20h (winter)
www.hituero.org
Click picture to enlarge
