Granja de moreruela

The town of Granja de moreruela It is located in the heart of the Zamora region of Farmland. With about forty-one square meters of area and seven hundred of average altitude, its municipal area has around two hundred and eighty inhabitants and is washed by the Esla River.

Known as Saint Eugenie In medieval times, it changed its name when it was donated to the monastery of Santa María de Moreruela, which we will tell you about immediately. Already in the XNUMXth century, the town was integrated into the province of Zamora and in the judicial district of Benavente. But, without further ado, let's move on to tell you what to see and do in Granja de Moreruela.

The monastery of Santa María de Moreruela

It is, without a doubt, the main monument of the Zamoran town, because, although it is in ruins, it still preserves a good part of its architecture. has been declared A Cultural and you will find it impressive. Its construction began at the end of the XNUMXth century and, over time, it would become one of the most important monastic centers in the city. Cistercian Order in Spain. However, there are references to a previous monastery.

Respond to romantic style and the first thing to be built was its enormous iglesia, which measures sixty-three meters long and twenty-six meters wide. It has a Latin cross plan with three naves divided into nine sections, a large transept and headboard. At the same time, in the latter the great main chapel semicircular in shape and with an ambulatory from which, in turn, seven chapels emerge.

Likewise, on the headboard there are remains of polychrome paintings with heraldic and plant themes. For its part, the transept is covered with pointed barrel vaults and in the southern arm there is a beautiful door with a triple archivolt.

On the other hand, the exterior is spectacular, especially in the headboard area, where it has three heights. The first has small apses, the second is the ambulatory and the third corresponds to the aforementioned main chapel with windows. Likewise, the south façade is preserved almost entirely, while the north façade has been left at half height. Finally, on the north arm of the cruise you can see a beautiful flared rosette. But the monastery was made up of many other rooms.

The chapter house

It was second in importance after the church within conventual life. Here the monks met to discuss the important matters of the monastery and to celebrate the funeral of great people in the area. It has a square plan with four large central columns and is covered by ribbed vaults that are already genuinely gothic.

Its construction already occurred in the XNUMXth century, with this architectural style in full force. But we should not confuse it with monks room, another room that they used to do their work. Therefore, it was connected to the garden and the interior patio, among other rooms.

In short, other domestic spaces were the kitchen, the refectory or dining room and the rooms that served as Bedrooms to the monks. They went up to these after the last liturgical service of the afternoon and left them to attend matins in the church, which was connected to them by a staircase.

The cloister

You can see it on the north side of the church, with which it communicated through two doors. Its plan is almost square and, in medieval times, it must have had arcades covered by wood. Keep in mind that its current appearance is due to a reform carried out in the XNUMXth century, so it does not match its original appearance. For that same reason, it is believed that it had a fountain in its center, typical of Cistercian monasteries, although there is no evidence of its existence.

Architecturally, it was the monastery axis, since it communicated with most of its dependencies. However, some of its exits, such as the one that gave access to the orchard, were closed due to the aforementioned reform. On the other hand, through the call passage of converts, you reached the inn of the monastery. This was already functioning in the XNUMXth century, especially for pilgrims who made the the Camino de Santiago, and it had an infirmary and apothecary, where sick monks were also cared for.

Finally, the monastery had other properties that allowed him to survive. To obtain water, they had a set of water mills in the Esla River. They also had a roof tile and, above all, they owned farmland in different nearby towns such as Irrigation of the Path, buckets o Cerecinos del Carrizal. They even had houses and warehouses in the towns of Toro and Zamora, which will give you an idea of ​​the strength that this monastic ensemble had in its time.

Interpretation Center of the Cistercian Order

Precisely, to appreciate the importance of the monastery and the power that the Cistercian Order exercised at that time, you have this interpretation center located in Granja de Moreruela. The first thing that will catch your attention is the building that houses it, since it is a modern construction that has nothing to do with Romanesque or Gothic. However, for its cubic volumes and geometric shapes, the architect Leocadio Peláez has sought inspiration in architectural purity of the Cistercian Romanesque.

But what is shown inside is more important. It takes a tour of the history of this monastic order that was born in France, was based on the rule of Saint Benedict and whose maximum splendor occurred in the XNUMXth and XNUMXth centuries to decline in the following century. Through the archaeological objects found in the Granja de Moreruela monastery, panels and models of constructions of the order, you will get to know better the exciting Cistercian history.

Other monuments of Granja de Moreruela

In the area called Abrigo del Portalón, located on the left bank of the Esla river, you can see schematic cave paintings. It is one of the few examples of this prehistoric art in the entire province of Zamora. If you come to see them, you will find an information panel to guide you.

But of greater importance is the church of San Juan Bautista, which you will find in the center of Granja de Moreruela. Built of red brick and light stone, it responds to the romantic style. This includes the semicircular arches of its façade and windows, as well as the central bell tower that rises on the façade. On the other hand, the main altarpiece is baroque and also houses carvings of San Antonio Abad and the Christ of Amparo.

Festivities and gastronomy of the Zamora town

As for the former, the patron saint of the Zamoran town is San Juan Bautista, whose festival is celebrated on June twenty-fourth. But perhaps more important is the Christ of Amparo, which takes place on the third Sunday in September with a snack near the monastery. The festivities of San Antonio, with an auction of gifts to the saint, or on March XNUMX, with the blessing of the fields. But of greater importance is the Saint Mark's pilgrimage, which takes place on April XNUMX on the banks of the Esla. It is completed with a procession and a rosary and, among the products consumed, are fried milk and rice pudding.

This leads us to talk to you about the gastronomy of Granja de Moreruela for you to enjoy. It is not much different from what is common to the entire region of Farmland, which, by the way, is delicious and filling. They stand out in it sausages y roast lamb. But also the pigeon and other lamb meats. Likewise, they are very tasty cooked as the lentil one from the area, which are even exported to the United States.

On the other hand, the large sheep herd in the region allows delicious cheeses to be made, such as the so-called Mule's Leg or Villalón. You can accompany it with candeal bread or other recipes for this product. For example, the stick donuts (somewhat sweet) or oil cakes. She also carries bread pork rinds cake, which is accompanied by pieces of pork, sugar and lemon zest.

With it we move on to the typical sweets of the area. We have already mentioned the rice pudding and fried milk. But you can also taste some exquisite appendages. It is a fried dough that contains anise and, likewise, lemon zest. You can also enjoy some torrijas with candeal bread or some nutty.

How to get to Granja de Moreruela

This Castilian town is located about thirty-eight kilometers from the city of Zamora. To get there, you have bus lines that leave from the capital. But, perhaps, it is best that you travel in your own car. To do this, you have to take the La Plata Highway (A-66) or, if you prefer to go slower, the National 630, at whose kilometer point 239 the population is located.

In conclusion, we have shown you what you can see and do in Granja de moreruela. We only have to advise you that, if you visit it, you also go to towns in the same province as Toro o Benavente, which are, equally, monumental. Come and discover this beautiful area of ​​Spain.