Rabbit Fur Hats and the 3838.

 We are heading for Tronchon. It is so narrow a hill top village that streetview don’t go down into its depths.  We are going to go through this place in all the depth that the sole place on our route deserves.

The GSH is, as always,  our friend. 

TRONCHON:  Situated on the slope or foothills of a fairly high mountain on the southwest side; the climate is cold and the most common illnesses are catarrhal. It consists of about 200 houses , including the town hall, an elementary primary school attended by 60 children; a hospital for the relief of the sick poor with very meager income; two springs with good watering troughs of abundant and excellent water, from which the residents obtain their water; parish church situated in the Plaza de la Constitución to the west of the village, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, served by a priest of first promotion and by ordinary competition and provision, also having 10 beneficed clergy; The church is of the Doric order, built of hewn stone, and is very solid; there is also a public oratory dedicated to Saint Barbara and up to seven hermitages scattered throughout the district. The cemetery is located outside the town, a position that poses no threat to public health. The terrain is entirely mountainous, arid, and stony, with no forests other than a few small holm oak groves, but abundant in pastures of good grass. Vegetables are grown in some small orchards. The roads are bridle paths and lead to the neighboring villages. Mail is received twice a week from Zaragoza. Products : wheat, barley, rye, potatoes, and some vegetables and legumes; there is sheep, goats, and cattle, and hunting of rabbits and partridges. Industry : there are several potteries and hat factories, which sell their products to Zaragoza and other places. Population : 237 households, 950 inhabitants.

Today 56 people dwell here. In 1877 it was 1208.  With 161 people [and that number falling] Jaime Gascon Monserrate of the PP could be bothered to mayor it up - which he did from 1979 to 2011.  

The place has a website. https://www.tronchon.info/ The website has a splendid early 2000s feel but feels slightly more update than most in terms of content. The website is somewhat splendid. They have a feature on Rabbit Fur Hats, cheese and Saint Anne’s song. It even has a bar graph with the number of times the website has been visited - although they gave this up in 2006.  3838 in December 2006 if you must know.

The village has a wash house. Our hero Jose is here to give us details. ‘This beautiful Collado Washhouse, associated with the Collado Fountain, is located in a building open onto Collado Square, on the corner of Cañón Street, in the town of Tronchón.

The washhouse consists of two rectangular stone basins raised slightly above ground level, attached to one of the building's interior walls, separate from the two smaller basins that form the fountain, which is also located in the same building.  The three-walled building is constructed of irregular stone and mortar masonry, covered with a single-pitched roof supported by an internal wooden beam structure. A visit to the Collado Washhouse is highly recommended, as is exploring the entire historic center of this charming medieval town of Tronchón.’

Deep in the heart of the town is the Casa Matilde. Chris gave it four stars .’I first visited the restaurant over 15 years in ago. There was no dining area as today and we were served in Matilde's dining room! Wwwooow magic! Naturally she included in my book, ,'The Last Spanish Secret.,' Wonderful country fayre and atmosphere.’

On the way out we pass the Bar Troncho.  They get 3.8 stars.  Fernando gives the perfect four star review. ‘Well-run space and good food; suitable for a day trip around the town and the region.’  A month a go Jesus liked it.  ‘We ate very well and it was inexpensive. You could criticize the fact that there was a lot of noise from the regulars at the beginning, but they gradually left, the bar became quiet, and the food, service, and price were all good.’

We will leave the village and step out towards the Valencian border.