Cultural heritage, in Morales del Rey

Journey

Circular

Way

On foot (1 h.)

Length

4.3 kms.

Ascent slope

80 m.

Recommended

spring
summer
autumn
winter

Difficulty of the route

Low

It is a circular route that begins and ends in the Plaza de la Iglesia de Morales del Rey . The route runs through the streets, roads and paths of Morales del Rey.

The first stop on the trip is the Neolithic and Megalithic Archaeological Classroom , where explanatory panels and recreations of the period allow you to discover the daily life of the first settlers of the Eria valley. Near the classroom there is a frog, a heron and a Celtic soldier painted by Antonio Feliz (Parsec!) Will you find them?

The traditional trades of the blacksmith and the miller are the next point of interest, a trip to the past in which to learn about the way of working, the machinery and the tools used by both professionals. In the forge you will feel the intense heat of the fire, while you listen to the tapping of the hammer with the horseshoe on the anvil. In the mill you will discover how the force of water is capable of moving heavy stones, which by friction grind cereal or flax, obtaining flour, feed or linseed oil.

The wineries were and continue to be a place of leisure and meeting for the neighbors. These traditional constructions, excavated in the bowels of the Sierra de Carpurias, were used to make and preserve wine. Morales del Rey has the largest number of wineries and the best preserved in the Benavente region and the valleys. Will you be able to determine the exact number?

Following the route you will find two elements of popular architecture: the fountains and the dovecotes. The fountains are made of stone and were used for domestic supply. The dovecotes scattered throughout the territory have a rectangular plan, a rammed earth wall and a pitched roof.

The visit to the 'El Tesoro' dolmen (3,000-5,000 BC) complements the visit to the Archaeological Classroom, it is a collective tomb made up of large quartzite stone orthostats from the Sierra de Carpurias. Look at its orientation. What do you think this is due to?

A good part of the Morales del Rey festivities center around the Hermitage of the Bendito Cristo de la Vera Cruz :

Tortillero April 25, Saint Mark's Day. The fields next to the hermitage are blessed. After the religious ceremony, people flock to the wineries to enjoy a meal with family and friends.
Orrenda of bagels . On the first Saturday after May 3, the Blessed Christ is included in novenas and in 9 days there is a procession along with the images of Santa Bárbara, Santa Eugenia and the traditional threads. At the end of the procession, the bagels are sold and auctioned.
Festival of the Blessed Christ of the True Cross . Sunday following September 14. They are the largest festivals in the municipality.

The route continues along a pedestrian promenade on the banks of the Eria that ends at the starting point, the Plaza de la Iglesia de San Pelayo.