Alquézar

Alquézar ( Alquezra Aragonese ) is a North Spanish municipality ( municipio ) in the province of Huesca, in the Autonomous Community of Aragon. The old center was classified as a cultural ( Bien de Interès Cultural ) in the category Conjunto histórico - artístico.

Location

Alquézar lies on a rocky hill in the southern foothills of the Pyrenees (Sierra de Guara ) at the output of a canyon of the Río Vero nearly 50 km ( driving distance ) west of Huesca. The small town of Ainsa is located about 30 kilometers north, but a detour through Barbastro must be taken, which extended the route clearly.

Demographics

In the late 19th and early 20th century Alquézar had well over 800 people.

Economy

Traditionally, agriculture, crafts and trade of the utmost importance to the economic life of the small community. Due to the rapidly increasing mechanization of agriculture in the second half of the 20th century, many jobs have been eliminated. Particular apartment rentals - - For the tourism joined as the source of income of the city.

History

Already in the 9th century was Jalaf ibn Rashid, the province of Huesca on behalf of his master, the Emir of Saragossa, controlled, on the rocky hill a fortress (Arabic: al - kasr ) build, but in the wake of the Reconquest ( Reconquista ) and recolonization ( repoblación ) was destroyed in the area. Alquézar even in 1067 (possibly 1065 ) by Sancho Ramírez was conquered in the year and then became part of the Crown of Aragon, and later the Kingdom of Spain.

Attractions

• The old town with its narrow streets is the main attraction of the place for many visitors. Here are both houses of stone masonry and brick, the floor partially rests on supports which are connected by powerful wood architraves.

• The in appearance a very defensive character ( fortified church ) documenting Collegiate ( Santa María la Mayor ) is at the highest elevation of the site at the site of the former Moorish fortress, in whose premises, Christian hermit monks had taken root in the 11th century, the in the 13th century joined the Augustinian order. A first church was built, which was rebuilt in the 16th century to the visible today nave, but with several side chapels provided church. This impressed by their high ribbed vault with differently shaped star motifs and by a baroque altarpiece. Subsequent to the south trapezoidal cloister ( claustro ) dates from the 14th century, however, still contains several ' primitive ' but expressive Romanesque capitals with only partially interpretable scenes and characters - the sacrifice of Isaac will be appreciated however. The frescoes on the walls of the cloister were in 15-16. Century attached - they show mostly New Testament scenes. The museum located on the upper floor of the cloister presents altarpiece and other religious works of art dating from the late Middle Ages to the Baroque period.

Adoration of the Magi

Dinner party

Contending knights and admonishing monk

• Below the church fortress stands the parish church of San Miguel, which was built in the years 1681-1708. The three-nave church shows outside and inside a simple and strict Baroque architecture that completely dispensed with stone or stucco. The interior was formerly broken up by several smaller altarpiece, however, were almost completely destroyed in the time of the Spanish Civil War. All the visible on the walls are pictures of quite mediocre quality.
• A small museum for folklore (Museo Casa Etnológico Fabián ) shows various exhibits to the agricultural and artisan techniques of previous times.