Montánchez
Montánchez is a municipality located in the province of Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain. It is situated at 39°13′N 6°09′W / 39.217°N 6.150°W, some 702 metres above sea level. The municipality has an approximate population of just over 2,000.[2]
Montánchez | |
|---|---|
View of Montanchez | |
Flag Seal | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Cáceres |
| Area | |
| • Total | 112.66 km2 (43.50 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 705 m (2,313 ft) |
| Population (2018)[1] | |
| • Total | 1,732 |
| • Density | 15/km2 (40/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Website | www.montanchez.es |
The town sits in the Sierra de Montánchez, a small mountain range rising above the plains of Extremadura. Its elevated position has earned it the nickname "the balcony of Extremadura".
The town's economy relies principally on agriculture. It is one of the main centres in Spain for the production of jamón ibérico, and also produces wine.
History edit
Although there is evidence of prehistoric settlement,[3] the first major residents were the Romans, who founded the town in the 1st century AD. Moorish invaders captured the town in 713, taking advantage of its strategic location in the mountains to build a castle, which still dominates the village today. The town reverted to Christianity in 1230, when it was taken by Alfonso IX. The castle was updated at this time, but continued to form an important defensive line.
References edit
- ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
- ^ . www.mancomunidadsierrademontanchez.es. Archived from the original on 30 September 2007. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
- ^ http://www.montanchez.net/historia/prehistoria.html[bare URL]
External links edit
- History of the town in Spanish - currently incomplete, but with some detailed information on Prehistory
- Information about activities in English also rural accommodation in Montanchez area