Castro Caldelas is a municipality in the province of

Ourense Ourense (; ) is a city and the capital of the province of province of Ourense, Ourense, located in the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Galicia (Spain), Galicia, northwestern Spain. It is on the Camino Sanabrés path o ...

, in the autonomous community of Galicia,

Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. Featuring the Punta de Tarifa, southernmost point of continental Europe, it is the largest country in Southern Eur ...

. It belongs to the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...

of Terra de Caldelas. Its area is 87,6 km². Castro Caldelas is divided into 16 areas and 86 entities of population, with a population of 1,313 ( INE 2016). Its residents are called .

History

Archaeological evidence suggests that it was settled during the prehistoric and Roman periods. The Romans established a presence in the region, leaving behind ruins and artifacts that attest to their influence. During the Middle Ages, Castro Caldelas was a part of the

Kingdom of Galicia The Kingdom of Galicia was a political entity located in southwestern Europe, which at its territorial zenith occupied the entire northwest of the Iberian Peninsula. In the early 10th century, the Kingdom of Galicia was formed following the div ...

. It was strategically located, and a fortress or "castro" was built to defend the town and its surroundings. The castle of Castro Caldelas was constructed during this time and played a significant role in the history of the region. Like many other places in Spain, Castro Caldelas was involved in the process of the

Reconquista The ''Reconquista'' (Spanish language, Spanish and Portuguese language, Portuguese for ) or the fall of al-Andalus was a series of military and cultural campaigns that European Christian Reconquista#Northern Christian realms, kingdoms waged ag ...

. During this time the town was subject to various battles and power struggles during this period. Castro Caldelas continued to develop during the 16th and 17th centuries, with the construction of religious buildings and expansion of the town. The castle, which had been a defensive structure, also served as a noble residence during this time. In the 19th and 20th centuries, Castro Caldelas, like many other towns, experienced social and economic changes which caused it to become an administrative and cultural center in the region. Today, Castro Caldelas is known for its historical and cultural significance. The castle has been restored and is a prominent tourist attraction. The town is also famous for its winemaking traditions, with the Ribeira Sacra (DO) wine region nearby.

References

Municipalities in the Province of Ourense {{galicia-geo-stub