Wonder Breed

 Welcome to May Day!  The Dia del Trabajador is a holiday across the whole of Spain.  Madrid has the Fiesta de la Comunidad de Madrid tomorrow.  We are going to Calanda.

We are heading into town and this is not just a town with a battle but a town with a miracle.  

On 29th March 1640, as legend has it,  between ten and eleven at night,  Miguel Pellicer recovered, through the intervention of the Virgin of Pilar,  the leg that had been amputated two years and five months earlier.  On 25th April Miguel Juan and his parents arrived in Zaragoza to give thanks to the Virgin of Pilar. The Zaragoza Council sent the Count-Duke of Olivares the information about the event so that he, in turn, could bring it to the attention of King Philip IV . Testifying in the proceedings were  doctors and health workers, including the surgeon who amputated his leg, family members and neighbors, local authorities, church authorities, and various other people (six people, including two innkeepers from Samper de Calanda and Zaragoza ). The Archdiocese of Aragon recognized the event as a miracle on 27th April 1641.

On a more earthly level in 1833 the First Carlist War was in full swing and on 6th December 1833 800 government troops took on 1200 Carlist foot and 27 horse.   Upon seeing the Government forces, the Carlists, under the command of Ram de Víu who occupied the hermitage of Santa Bárbara opened fire and retreated to the trenches set up in Calanda . This was the position of the bulk of the Carlist troops, who received a frontal attack and fled in disarray and were captured by the Government forces - who occupied the town on 10th December.

The town brims with old bits, and we shall see some. First we will wander in along the N0211.  We will turn off so we can go through the old town.  At the turn is the Hote; Balfagon.  Almost 400 people have given it 3.9 stars,  Yesterday L Ng - I wonder if the ‘g’ is silent, said ‘This is an old hotel on the side of the road. The window was a single glaze so you will hear the noise from the road. The room has single beds only but comfortable. It is a basic small room. The hotel provides shampoo and bath gel in sachets and doesn’t have hair dryer in the room. There is a small supermarket across the road.’ and that’s what I think you need to know.

Wandering in the back streets well will pass the Centro Bunuel   https://bunuelcalanda.com/ Brunel was a filmmaker https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luis_Bu%C3%B1uel  An avant garde surrealist who worked in France and America his life is far too interesting to be reduced to a few lines here.  I had to include this review by duckula, from seven years ago.  ‘Congrats, you’ve made it here to Calanda wise Buñuel fan! After visiting the centro, please ask the staff the exact location of the Buñuel residence! And leave a comment in your review to let us know your favorite Buñuel! 😙 Also if you’re looking for a great place to have a meal here, please check under my reviews.’

We will pass the ruins of the castle.  Doncelador stated ‘The castle dates back to the 12th century, it was destroyed during the First Carlist War and currently only a few remains remain that are being renovated, a cistern, the access trap and a part of the wall. It is located next to the Pilar church.’  They are right.  Don’t go to Calanda just for these stones.

Time to wiggle out towards the N-211 again.  The Panaderos Artesanos is at hand. It gets 4.7 stars.  Andre  s review [5 stars] said ‘wonder breed’ - and who could deny it.  Two years ago Claudia noted ‘I have bought bread and it is exquisite, as well as some meringues and the lady who serves is very friendly 🙂 …’

So we end the day on the road again,