Belorado (Burgos) (0)

Did you know that... Belorado

It is located to the east of the province of Burgos, close to La Rioja and at the foothills of the Sierra de la Demanda, at the foot of the Montes de Ayago, in the Montes de Oca region. The origins of Belorado (Bellumfori) are reflected in the existing Celtiberian and Roman archaeological sites, such as La Muela and La Mesa respectively. The first documents on Belorado date from 945, but it was not until 116, when Alfonso I El Batallador repopulated the town and gave it its own privileges, that its importance began to grow.

It had two different neighborhoods, that of the Jewish community in the neighborhood of Calle Nueva, the current Calle Mayor, which was located on both sides of the Río Verdeancho to the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Belén, this would be the first time that the Christian authorities of the town took care that the Jews remained concentrated thus making it difficult to live with the Christian districts. The space reserved for the Mudejar group was located in the current Corro district, between the Torre del Homenaje (the castle) and the Puerta de la Caldera, the medieval door of Doña Blanca.

A little more history

Its apogee throughout the 13th century was especially boosted by Alfonso X the Wise who, during his stays in the town, made important donations to it. If the Kings strengthened the place in the Middle Ages, in the Modern Age Belorado belonged to the Lordship of the Condestables of Castile and in the village lived important noble families who stood out in expeditions to America, in the letters, and in the sciences.

What to see in Belorado?

Belorado preserves the typical construction of villages born under the protection of a castle, with an irregular layout characteristic of its military origin. The main square of Belorado, with its porticoes, emblazoned houses and its central kiosk is the center of beliforana social life as well as having a great Jacobean atmosphere. Also in the Main Square is one of Belorado's two churches, that of San Pedro.

To discover

At the foot of the remains of the castle, located in a very steep enclave, we find the church of Santa María, formerly Santa María de la Capilla, as this was the chapel of the castle, was rebuilt in the sixteenth century, in the central altarpiece there is a Gothic carving of the Virgin of the Chapel. On the outskirts of the town we can see the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de Belén, which was once a pilgrims' hospital and the convent of Nuestra Señora de la Bretonera. In Belorado we can also enjoy its environmental heritage, walks, routes, caves and mines, as well as its archaeological sites of La Muela and La Mesa.​

Festivities

The patron saint fiestas of San Vítores are celebrated on 26 August, those of Gracias, the first week of September and on 25 January the patron saint, La Virgen de Belén, is celebrated.​

Traditions

It is traditional to celebrate the entrance of March in the Main Square, where men from the village gather to sing. Their traditional dances contain enough elements to consider them a social fact. For at least four hundred years, dance has been part of the festive rituals of Belorado. The processional dance of Belorado is staged exclusively in the feasts of Gracias, the first weekend of September. The beliforanas dances are divided into two types: whistles and sticks or troqueaos.

Curiosities

His castle was the stronghold of El Cid, and was given to him as a wedding dowry of King Fernando I (first Castilian king), when he married Jimena.

The Legend

Under the ruins of the castle are located the remains of the caves that according to the legend served as a hermitage to San Caprasio and his fellow anchorites Saint Pia and Saint Valentine. The history of San Caprasio, associated with that of the Holy Faith, tells us that this saint, Bishop of Agen, in the last third of the 3rd century, hid in a cave during the persecution decreed by the Emperor Maximin. The example of the young Fe, bravely and openly facing martyrdom, made him abandon his hiding place, go to the place of martyrdom of the maiden and find the same glorious end as she.