Poza de la Sal (Burgos) (0)

Did you know that... Poza de la Sal

It is located in the northeast of the province of Burgos, at the foot of the Páramo de Masa and protected by the rocky massif crowned by the castle. From its location are visible the region of La Bureba, the Obarenes Mountains to Pancorbo, the Sierra del Alto de las Cruces and the Sierra de la Demanda. The history of Poza de la Sal and its splendour go hand in hand with that of its salt mines, to which it also owes its name. The archaeological sites of El Castellar, a possible Iron Age castro, and Alto Milagro confirm that the area has been inhabited since prehistoric times. Traces of the Roman period before Christ remain in the Alto Milagro, they are those of Salionca or Salionica, a town that is believed to have been the origin of Poza de la Sal. But it was not until the ninth century when Poza was named as a population center, locating it in the salt territory itself, on the northeastern slope of El Castellar.

A little more history

According to documents, between the 10th and 13th centuries there was a Benedictine monastery, of Saints Justo and Pastor, which depended on that of San Pedro de Cardeña de Burgos, as well as a church dedicated to Santa Eufemia, another to San Millán and a first fortification built very possibly when the area was repopulated by order of Fernán González y Poza became a small alfoz. In the year 1135 the construction of the present castle and of the wall begins, Poza de la Sal was villa of realengo until in 1298 it was donated by the king Fernando IV to Juan Rodriguez Rojas, being thus lordship until the century XVI when Carlos I created the Marquesado de Poza. The town of Poza de la Sal and its salt flats lived centuries of splendour until they gradually began to be abandoned at the end of the 19th century.

What to see in Poza de la Sal?

Today Poza de la Sal can be visited without hurry, without hustle and bustle, showing echoes of a past that have left an indelible mark both in its environment and in its urban network and in the customs and traditions that proudly endure in its people. In the shelter of the castle of the Rojas, built in the 14th century over the previous castle of the 9th century, and protected by the medieval walls, with its three gates, that of the Conjuradero, which joins the New square with the Old, that of the Town Hall and that of the Eras, is the town centre of the town which, with its narrow, cobbled streets, boasts stone houses with coats of arms, in others its framework of wood and plaster stands out; the town hall, probably built in the 16th century; the church of San Cosme and San Damián, from the late 14th and early 15th centuries in the Gothic style with a baroque façade; the administration house of the Royal Saltworks, from the 18th century, now the Las Salinas Interpretation Centre.

To discover

In the direction of the Salinas de Poza de la Sal, an essential visit, there is a complex known as Fuente Buena that brings together springs that supply fresh water, washing places, troughs and a leather tanning centre, all dating from the 18th century. Between the castle of Los Rojas and the town centre of Poza de la Sal, a square tower and some wall canvas is what remains of what was the palace of the Marquises of Poza. The unique environment in which Poza de la Sal is located invites you to walk and discover it, without leaving the paths, through its signposted hiking routes.​

Festivities

Poza de la Sal celebrates its patron saints San Cosme and San Damián, from 26 to 29 September. The festival of San Blas, declared of Regional Tourist Interest, is celebrated on the Sunday following 3 February. The pozanos celebrate two processions in honour of the Virgen de Pedrajas, one on 29 June when the Virgen is climbed from the parish church to the sanctuary, and another on 8 September, when it is climbed back down to the parish church. On 25 April, San Marcos is honoured; on 15 May, San Isidro; and on 22 July, Santa María Magdalena, the salineros and salineras celebrate their fiesta.

Traditions

Poza de la Sal celebrates, on November 22, with great enthusiasm Santa Cecilia, patron saint of music and therefore of musicians. The town has a Municipal Band since 1891. Poza de la Sal is considered the smallest town in Europe with a Band. This so traditional melomaniac hobby is culminated with the already established Festival of Charangas at National level that from the year 2013, the first weekend of May, is celebrated in the town with great success.

Curiosities

Félix Rodríguez de la Fuente, is one of the most famous pozanos, and of course, Poza de la Sal pays tribute to his work and hobby. Felix had in this nature so disparate that surrounds the village, where among its cliffs have their habitat a large number of birds of prey, the true school where his love and interest for animals was born and made him one of the best naturalists in the world.

The Legend

The apothecary's daughters / are raised between crystals / and me as a salinera / between huts and canals. "Coplas Pozanas"

OTHER PLANS AND EXCURSIONS IN BURGOS

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SOME ROUTES BY POZA DE LA SAL AND SURROUNDINGS

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