Bricks and Mortar

A quick detour to the Pozuel del Campo. It has been its own place since 1248, when James I said so.

The GSH Dictionary notes ‘POZUEL DEL CAMPO: a village with a town hall in the province of Teruel, judicial district of Calamocha, diocese and territorial court of Zaragoza, and captaincy general of Aragon. It is situated on the summit of a small hill surrounded by larger ones, preserving some sections of an ancient wall with turrets. The climate is healthy, and no particular diseases are known. It consists of 130 houses of moderate construction; a granary with meager stocks; a moderately attended public school; a parish church (San Miguel Arcángel), served by a priest appointed by the ordinary process; and a cemetery that poses no threat to public health. There is a well in the town, located to the north, from which the residents obtain their water. and also a spring in the village with little water. The land is of good quality and consists of plains and hills with patches of holm oak; there is a pastureland exclusively dedicated to livestock. The roads leading to the neighboring villages are in fair condition. Mail is received from the district capital. Production : much wheat, saffron, seeds, and some legumes; there is sheep, goats, and cattle, and hunting of rabbits, hares, and partridges. Population : 101 households, 406 inhabitants.

The walls have gone, and the population is a tenth of what it was from the 1870s to 1950s, when 600 was to be expected.  There is a church and a cave and that’s it.

Back we go and by gum we have a long walk until we get to Monreal del Campo, where the N-211 ends.

Monreal is in the Jiloca valley and is home to the railway and N-234.  Today about 2500 people live here. The usual rise from 1516 in 1842 to 3578 residence in 1940 was followed by a gentle decline to 2308 in 1991 but then the population rose a little.

Monreal was in the wrong place at the wrong time during the first two Carlist Wars.   In September 1839, the Carlist leader Llangostera ordered the demolition of the church, the tower, the town hall, and the rest of the Plaza Mayor.  As if that was not enough he went for the hermitage of Santa Bárbara and a castle near it.  The following year, on 6th May, a Carlist attack resulted in the burning of about one hundred houses and the looting of part of the town.

The place saw a bit of action in the Civil War. The Civil Guard seized power for the Fasc in July 1936. Republican raids aimed at breaking the rail line took place in April 1937. The remnants of war were discovered in 2017 when 538 81mm mortar shells were found.

The town’s approach has a splendid ‘beware of the cows’ sign even as you walk in.

Let us walk through the place and stop at the Luna bar.  It opens from 9am to midnight Tuesday to Saturday and 12 to 12 on Sundays.

Yesterday Alberto opined ‘Fabulous restaurant at the entrance to Monreal del Campo, just two minutes from the highway. Delicious, generous portions made with high-quality ingredients. Everything was fantastic; the octopus and cuttlefish were surprisingly well-cooked. Absolutely delicious. Furthermore, the service was friendly and attentive throughout. 100% recommended, definitely worth repeating.’

Next door is Ole tus patitas.  It is a woman owned, LGBTQ+ friendly animal feed shop. https://oletuspatitas.com/   Ana reckoned ‘They have everything, the shop assistant is very friendly, whenever we come to the village in summer we go there ‘

So we leave town and the end of the N-211.