Castrillón
Encyclopedia
Castrillón is a concejo (municipality) in Asturias
, located on the central coast. It has an area of 56.70 km² and a population of 22,361 inhabitants (in 2005). The most important population centres are the capital Piedras Blancas
, Salinas
, and Raíces
.
es and cliff
s. For this reason, the county is known as "the county of the 7 beaches", even though there are more than seven beaches along its long coastline.
Inland, the area is characterized by the smoothness of the landscape, mainly formed by fertile valleys with a small river network that crosses the county. The altitude increases steadily towards the Southwest, with the peak in the Alto del Marqués (438 m).
settlements from the Celtic
and Roman
periods. In Peñarrey, an altar
with an inscription has been found, together with some pottery. There are also some silver coins in Quiloño and some other places.
The earliest known written documents found date from the 9th century. Castrillón appears named as Castilione in the Liber Testamentorum of the Cathedral of Oviedo
, sourced as a copy of a document from 857
AD. In that period Castrillón was part of the Alfoz of Gozón (later on it would be part of the Alfoz of Avilés); this is the origin of the first coat of arms of the county. In these documents, and others from the 10th century, there are references to the various contributions of the Kings to the Church of Oviedo, like the one dated on 921 where the donations from Ordoño II
, including the Sancti Saluatoris de Petris Albis church (San Salvador de Piedras Blancas).
The castle of Gauzón is also widely mentioned in those documents. This emblematic Asturian fortress, which was located in the Peñón de Raíces (Rock of Raices), dates to the Early Middle Ages
. This place was used as a prison for the rebels, and as a protection for the estuary of Avilés against the attacks of the Normans
. According to tradition and written legend, the Cruz de la Victoria
(Victory Cross) was forged there. Under the protection of the castle
, there was a monastery
that gave shelter to the orders of Santiago, San Francisco and La Merced. The inhabitants still use the bulrush
and some architectonic elements in the houses built in the lands where the old monastery was.
The salt
industry was very important during the Early Middle Ages, in the areas of Bayas, Naveces and Santa María del Mar.
When the Real Compañía de Minas (Royal Mining
Company) arrived in 1833, they began working the coal
reef of Arnao, which became the first submarine mine in Spain
. It was ultimately abandoned because of the filtration of sea water through its domes. At Arnao beach you can still see the derrick used for extraction, covered with zinc
panels.
The Real Compañía de Minas also worked in the foundry and elaboration of zinc and zinc byproducts. There are factories in Arnao and San Juan de Nieva. The construction of houses for their employees was the beginning of the current population centres of San Juan de Nieva, Arnao, and Salinas. At these places there are some interesting examples of 20th-century architecture.
Asturias
The Principality of Asturias is an autonomous community of the Kingdom of Spain, coextensive with the former Kingdom of Asturias in the Middle Ages...
, located on the central coast. It has an area of 56.70 km² and a population of 22,361 inhabitants (in 2005). The most important population centres are the capital Piedras Blancas
Piedras Blancas
Piedras Blancas is the capital town of the municipality of Castrillon, in the province of Asturias, Spain. It is 3 miles west of Aviles, 20 miles west of Gijon, 25 miles northwest of Oviedo and 4 miles east of Asturias Airport.-Geography:...
, Salinas
Salinas (Castrillón)
Salinas is one of ten parishes in Castrillón, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The population is 4,635 .-Culture:...
, and Raíces
Raíces
Raíces may refer to:* Raíces , a composition for symphony wind orchestra by Valencian composer Juan J. Colomer* Raíces , 1989* Raíces , 2008...
.
Geography
Situated on the littoral plain, the county is one of the flattest areas in Asturias. Its coast is formed by a series of beachBeach
A beach is a geological landform along the shoreline of an ocean, sea, lake or river. It usually consists of loose particles which are often composed of rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles or cobblestones...
es and cliff
Cliff
In geography and geology, a cliff is a significant vertical, or near vertical, rock exposure. Cliffs are formed as erosion landforms due to the processes of erosion and weathering that produce them. Cliffs are common on coasts, in mountainous areas, escarpments and along rivers. Cliffs are usually...
s. For this reason, the county is known as "the county of the 7 beaches", even though there are more than seven beaches along its long coastline.
Inland, the area is characterized by the smoothness of the landscape, mainly formed by fertile valleys with a small river network that crosses the county. The altitude increases steadily towards the Southwest, with the peak in the Alto del Marqués (438 m).
Parishes
Castrillón has eight parishes (administrative divisions):
|
Quiloño Quiloño is one of ten parishes in Castrillón, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.... Salinas (Castrillón) Salinas is one of ten parishes in Castrillón, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The population is 4,635 .-Culture:... Santa María del Mar (Castrillón) Santa María del Mar is one of ten parishes in Castrillón, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.... Santiago del Monte Santiago del Monte is one of eight parishes in Castrillón, a municipality within the province and autonomous community of Asturias, in northern Spain.The population is 209 .... |
Climate
Its oceanic climate means that there is little temperature variation. It has an annual average temperature of 13°C, a moderate summer and mild winter with frequent rain. In this way it is similar to adjacent regions.History
The first evidence of a human presence in Castrillón is in AsturAstur
The Astures were the Hispano-Celtic Gallaecian inhabitants of the northwest area of Hispania that now comprises almost the entire modern autonomous community of Asturias and the modern provinces León, and northern Zamora , and east of Trás os Montes in Portugal...
settlements from the Celtic
Prehistoric Iberia
The prehistory of the Iberian peninsula begins with the arrival of the first hominins 1.2 million years ago and ends with the Punic Wars, when the territory enters the domains of written history...
and Roman
Hispania
Another theory holds that the name derives from Ezpanna, the Basque word for "border" or "edge", thus meaning the farthest area or place. Isidore of Sevilla considered Hispania derived from Hispalis....
periods. In Peñarrey, an altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
with an inscription has been found, together with some pottery. There are also some silver coins in Quiloño and some other places.
The earliest known written documents found date from the 9th century. Castrillón appears named as Castilione in the Liber Testamentorum of the Cathedral of Oviedo
Cathedral of San Salvador (Oviedo)
The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of the Holy Saviour is a Roman Catholic cathedral and minor basilica in the centre of Oviedo, in the Asturias region of northern Spain....
, sourced as a copy of a document from 857
857
Year 857 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar.- Byzantine Empire :* Michael III of Byzantium, under the influence of his uncle Bardas, banishes his mother Theodora...
AD. In that period Castrillón was part of the Alfoz of Gozón (later on it would be part of the Alfoz of Avilés); this is the origin of the first coat of arms of the county. In these documents, and others from the 10th century, there are references to the various contributions of the Kings to the Church of Oviedo, like the one dated on 921 where the donations from Ordoño II
Ordoño II of León
Ordoño II was king of Galicia from 910, and king of Galicia and León from 914 until his death. He was the second son of King Alfonso III the Great and his wife, Jimena of Pamplona....
, including the Sancti Saluatoris de Petris Albis church (San Salvador de Piedras Blancas).
The castle of Gauzón is also widely mentioned in those documents. This emblematic Asturian fortress, which was located in the Peñón de Raíces (Rock of Raices), dates to the Early Middle Ages
Early Middle Ages
The Early Middle Ages was the period of European history lasting from the 5th century to approximately 1000. The Early Middle Ages followed the decline of the Western Roman Empire and preceded the High Middle Ages...
. This place was used as a prison for the rebels, and as a protection for the estuary of Avilés against the attacks of the Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
. According to tradition and written legend, the Cruz de la Victoria
Asturian art
Pre-Romanesque architecture in Asturias is framed between the years 711 and 910, the period of the rise, extension and disappearance of the kingdom of Asturias.-Historical introduction:...
(Victory Cross) was forged there. Under the protection of the castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, there was a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
that gave shelter to the orders of Santiago, San Francisco and La Merced. The inhabitants still use the bulrush
Bulrush
-Wetland plants:* Bolboschoenus, a genus in the sedge family * Cyperus, a genus in the sedge family * Scirpus, a genus in the sedge family * Schoenoplectus, a genus in the sedge family...
and some architectonic elements in the houses built in the lands where the old monastery was.
The salt
Salt
In chemistry, salts are ionic compounds that result from the neutralization reaction of an acid and a base. They are composed of cations and anions so that the product is electrically neutral...
industry was very important during the Early Middle Ages, in the areas of Bayas, Naveces and Santa María del Mar.
When the Real Compañía de Minas (Royal Mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
Company) arrived in 1833, they began working the coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
reef of Arnao, which became the first submarine mine in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. It was ultimately abandoned because of the filtration of sea water through its domes. At Arnao beach you can still see the derrick used for extraction, covered with zinc
Zinc
Zinc , or spelter , is a metallic chemical element; it has the symbol Zn and atomic number 30. It is the first element in group 12 of the periodic table. Zinc is, in some respects, chemically similar to magnesium, because its ion is of similar size and its only common oxidation state is +2...
panels.
The Real Compañía de Minas also worked in the foundry and elaboration of zinc and zinc byproducts. There are factories in Arnao and San Juan de Nieva. The construction of houses for their employees was the beginning of the current population centres of San Juan de Nieva, Arnao, and Salinas. At these places there are some interesting examples of 20th-century architecture.