Altitude: 475 m
Population : 148
(2006.Source INE)
Natives : Garciotuneros.
According to a document filethat belongs to the Cathedral of Avila,
in the year 1250, following the recapture by the Castilians, the knight
García Hortum o Fortum , of Basque origins, led the repopulation
of this land with people from Avila. The town owes its name to this
knight.
It belonged to the Village of Castil de Bayuela and then maintained
its dependence on the village regarding administration and the religious
affairs, depending on Castillo de Bayuela´s church. It would be
the Barons of Mendoza who granted Garciotún the title of village
in 1670.
This town is located southeast of the Shire,
in the foothills of the Sierra de San Vicente. Its streams drain into
the River Alberche on the right side.
To access by car from the N-V, you have to detour at 96 km, in the direction
to Castillo de Bayuela by the CM-5002. Then we turn to the right taking
the TO-9312 to reach this town. It is also accessible by bus.
CHURCH OF THE MAGDALENA:
There are two versions regarding the style of this building. While some
say it is Romanesque style, a Latin cross shape with a barrel vault, high
walls and robust buttresses; others say it is from the XV Century, of
late Gothic style and a structure divided into five sections. The bell
tower has four eyes, but it has only two bells.
SHRINE OF THE PURISIMA: Rebuilt in 1853. It is a small
chapel of a rectangular hall which is covered by wooden craft with two
straps and four slopes that correspond to the tiles.
Both monuments included in the inventory of regional heritage of the Province
of Toledo.
MILL: We ca find here
the remains of an oil mill that was probably a flour mill in its origin.
BRIDGE PYLONS: On the Saucedoso stream. This bridge sits
on cell lines bearing masonry slabs of granite. We can drop down to an
area of small waterfalls.
ROMAN BRIDGE: (Monument included in the inventory of
regional heritage of the Province of Toledo). It is popularly called Roman,
but is of later origin. It is on the stream of Las Cañadillas on
the way to Castillo de Bayuela, where it is known as the Puente de los
Molinos. It consists of only one semicircular eye with a strong start
and a carved ashlar insertion.
TRADITIONAL LIME FURNACE: To the northwest along the
Cordel de Merinas. It is known that at the end of the last century beautiful
veining marble quarry was exploited in the outskirts of Garciotún.
The rural exodus of the last century marked this town. In the year
1950, it reached a population of 505 inhabitants that in later decades
was drastically reduced below 150 inhabitants, a figure that has not
yet recovered.
Some renowned buildings as the Basilica del Prado de Talavera, the Parochial
Chapel of San Pedro inside the Cathedral of Toledo and the Royal Chapel
of San Pedro de Alcántara de Arenas de San Pedro show marble
called “de Bayuela” in their inside from the Garciotún
quarry. This material is also mentioned by Pérez Galdós
in one of his works.
The Festivities of la Malena is one of the oldest in the Shire, dating
back to the XVI century. In 1553, the region was hit by a very deadly
plague. According to the tradition, Garciotún decided to invoke
Santa María Magdalena, who afetr three days made the plague to
cease. She was named its patron saint, and since then, she is honored
every year on July 22nd. One striking feature of the festival is a "flower
bunch" of great weight and volume, decorated with flags and various
threads and fruit that is walked by young men around the church square.
July 22: Santa Maria Magdalena (The Malena).
September 14: Christ of the Cross.
December 7: Fires of the 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:
Stage 11 and 12.
Talavera roads and
trails, Sierra de San Vicente and La Jara : R-15 and R-21.
Some emblematic places to get a walk from the village are Cancho Amarillo,
since it provides a panoramic view of the mountains, the bridge pylons
and the Roman Bridge with its stone mills. In general, this town has
excellent scenic views to love and enjoy nature.
Phone Numbers
City Hall: 925 862 401
C. Doctor: 925 862 406.
Pharmacy: 925 862 415
C. Internet: 925 862 459
www.garciotum.es
Texts made in collaboration with Rosa Gonzalez Diaz.
Click picture to enlarge
