Miranda del Castañar, Medieval town in Sierra de Francia, Spain
Miranda del Castañar sits on a hilltop where the Alagón and Francia rivers meet, enclosed by a 600-meter fortified wall with four entry points. A 15th-century castle and a fortified plaza form the heart of the settlement, organized around these defensive structures.
The settlement began in the 15th century as a fortified community centered around a castle and housed both Jewish and Morisco populations. This coexistence shaped the town's development and social fabric for centuries.
The local building style blends stone masonry with wooden details typical of the Sierra de Salamanca region, seen in the nobles' houses made from carved stone blocks. This architecture reflects how families organized their lives and social standing within the community.
The tourism office in the Town Hall, housed in a 1585 building, can help with finding accommodation and arranging guided visits to key sites. The narrow streets are best explored on foot, and comfortable shoes are helpful for the sloped terrain.
Two original chapels stand outside the walls: El Humilladero and La Virgen de la Cuesta, connected by marked walking paths through the forest. These routes link religious sites with the surrounding woodland landscape.
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