ALMANSA
Situated between the provinces of Albacete, Valencia and Murcia is the city of Almansa, the name translates to 'place in the middle' and is of Arabic origin.
The Battle of Almansa was fought on April 25, 1707 and was one of the most decisive engagements of the War of the Spanish Succession.
The Franco-Spanish army led by Berwick defeated the allied forces of Britain, Portugal and the United Provinces which was led by the Count of Galway, thus reclaiming most of eastern Spain for the Bourbons.
The Bourbon army consisted of 25,000 troops of French, Spanish and an Irish regiment as well. Galway suffered the loss of 5,000 men killed in action and 12,000 were taken prisoner, the remaining 5,000 of his 22,000 strong army escaped to Tortosa.
Frederick the Great referred to Almansa as 'the most scientific battle of our century', while Winston Churchill once compared the crushing defeat to the disasters awaiting the British Army at the hands of Nazi Germany in the early years of the Second World War.
The most remarkable feature of Almansa is it's impressive castle which was built in the 14th century by Don Juan Manual and looks over the city atop a great rock.
Narrow streets surround the castle and these have been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. The Palace of the Counts of Cirat, also known as 'Casa Grande' with a beautiful frontage is well worth visiting along with many of the 17th century ancestral homes such as the houses of Enríquez de Navarra and the Marquis of Montortal.
Other interesting buildings to visit include the local arts centre which can be found at the old communal granary, the Parish of Asunción which dates back to the 16th and 19th centuries, the Convent of the Augustinians, the Convent of San Francisco and The Hermitage of San Blas.
The Almansa Dam is said to be the oldest masonry gravity dam still in use. Possibly built in the 16th century, the structure has cut-stone facing and a rubble masonry interior, standing at 25 metres high and 90 metres long.
Fiesta time in Almansa begins on the 1st-6th May with a series of religious acts including processions of the Moors and Christians and the offering of flowers in honour of the patron Maria Santísima de Belén. Other celebrations include San Juan in June, San Roque in August and San Francisco in October.
The city has a wide reputation for its wines which are dry, smooth and of an intense ruby colour and are essential on a good table.
Taste the specialities of the area including Pies with Egg Yolk, Pumpkin cakes, Chicken broth and the rice with meat and snails.
Situated between the provinces of Albacete, Valencia and Murcia is the city of Almansa, the name translates to 'place in the middle' and is of Arabic origin.
The Battle of Almansa was fought on April 25, 1707 and was one of the most decisive engagements of the War of the Spanish Succession.
The Franco-Spanish army led by Berwick defeated the allied forces of Britain, Portugal and the United Provinces which was led by the Count of Galway, thus reclaiming most of eastern Spain for the Bourbons.
The Bourbon army consisted of 25,000 troops of French, Spanish and an Irish regiment as well. Galway suffered the loss of 5,000 men killed in action and 12,000 were taken prisoner, the remaining 5,000 of his 22,000 strong army escaped to Tortosa.
Frederick the Great referred to Almansa as 'the most scientific battle of our century', while Winston Churchill once compared the crushing defeat to the disasters awaiting the British Army at the hands of Nazi Germany in the early years of the Second World War.
The most remarkable feature of Almansa is it's impressive castle which was built in the 14th century by Don Juan Manual and looks over the city atop a great rock.
Narrow streets surround the castle and these have been declared a Historic-Artistic Site. The Palace of the Counts of Cirat, also known as 'Casa Grande' with a beautiful frontage is well worth visiting along with many of the 17th century ancestral homes such as the houses of Enríquez de Navarra and the Marquis of Montortal.
Other interesting buildings to visit include the local arts centre which can be found at the old communal granary, the Parish of Asunción which dates back to the 16th and 19th centuries, the Convent of the Augustinians, the Convent of San Francisco and The Hermitage of San Blas.
The Almansa Dam is said to be the oldest masonry gravity dam still in use. Possibly built in the 16th century, the structure has cut-stone facing and a rubble masonry interior, standing at 25 metres high and 90 metres long.
Fiesta time in Almansa begins on the 1st-6th May with a series of religious acts including processions of the Moors and Christians and the offering of flowers in honour of the patron Maria Santísima de Belén. Other celebrations include San Juan in June, San Roque in August and San Francisco in October.
The city has a wide reputation for its wines which are dry, smooth and of an intense ruby colour and are essential on a good table.
Taste the specialities of the area including Pies with Egg Yolk, Pumpkin cakes, Chicken broth and the rice with meat and snails.
Entre las provincias da Albacete, Valencia y Murcia está situada la ciudad de Almansa. El nombre significa “la ciudad en el medio” y es de origen árabe.
La Batalla de Almansa se lidió el 25 de Abril de 1707 y fue una de las más decisivas en la Guerra de Sucesión en España.
La armada Franco-española, liderada por Berwick, venció a las fuerzas aliadas de Bretaña, Portugal y la Gran Alianza, que fue liderada por el duque de Galway y que reclamaban más parte del este de España para los Borbones.
La armada de los Borbones consistía en 25000 tropas de franceses, españoles y un regimiento irlandés. Galway sufrió la pérdida de 5000 hombres muertos en combate y 12000 fueron hechos prisioneros. El resto, 5000 de los 22000 de la gran armada, escaparon a Tortosa.
Federico el Grande se refirió a Almansa como “la batalla más científica de nuestro siglo”, mientras que Winston Churchill la comparó una vez con la aplastante derrota que le aguardaba a la armada inglesa a manos de los alemanes Nazis en los primeros años de la Segunda Guerra Mundial.
El rasgo más remarcable de Almansa es su impresionante castillo que fue construido en el siglo XIV por Don Juan Manuel y mira sobre la ciudad desde lo alto de un gran peñón.
Las calles estrechas que rodean el castillo han sido declaradas un lugar Histórico-Artístico. El palacio de los Condes de Cirat, también conocido como “Casa Grande” tiene una magnífica fachada que vale la pena ver, así como muchas de las cases ancestrales del siglo XVII de Enriquez de Navarra y los Marqueses de Montortal.
Otros edificios interesantes para visitarlos son el centro de arte local que se puede encontrar en el viejo granero comunal, la Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción que se remonta a los siglos XVI y XIX, el Convento de los Agustinos, el Convento de los Franciscanos y la Ermita de San Blas.
Del pantano de Almansa se dice que es al más viejo que todavía está en uso. Posiblemente construido en el siglo XVI, posee una forma abovedada, con 25 metros de alto y 90 metros de largo.
Las fiestas en Almansa se celebran del 1 al 6 de mayo con una serie de actos religiosos que incluyen la desfilada de Moros y Cristianos y la ofrenda de flores en honor a la patrona María Santísima de Belén. Otras celebraciones son las de San Juan en Junio, San Roque en agosto y San Francisco en octubre.
La ciudad tiene reputación por sus vinos que son secos, suaves y con un intenso color rubí, que son esenciales en una buena mesa.
Prueba las especialidades del lugar que incluyen los pasteles con yema de Huevo, las tortas de calabaza, el caldo de pollo y el arroz con carne y caracoles.