Rascafría: the bridge of forgiveness and the house of the hanged

For: Javier Brandoli
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Icy breath, treetops of yellows and reds until the view is lost. A hanging bridge of death or a monastery full of spirituality and history are sufficient reasons to stop at this town of Madrid feet and eyes. Rascafría, Park located in the middle of Guadarrama, a 90 kilometers from the capital, is shown as an unscheduled stop for those who do not know, on the road. Passed through it all, as throughout Spain: Romans, Arab, French, and they all stopped to admire the beauty of its landscape. The town's name is not known whether a "cold rock" or "cold oak", which is a type of small oak common in the area. Anyway, is true that this is a constantly low in winter below zero. A recommendation, will be visiting the town now, when it hits the cold, with the smell of fire inundating the streets.
But apart from a beautiful setting, Rascafría keeps a beautiful story of what was the Spanish reconquest. The town also had to invent their own rules to survive, but had to go beyond. Own army, hundred spears and a hundred horses, for years endorsed the nights and days, deaths and lives.

It all starts with the advance of the Christians against the Caliphate troops. The bull's skin is split in two battles and succeed. Defeats and victories that are left behind are former territories and consolidating new. The passage of Segovia is committed. Guadarrama is an important site unreasonably dangerous yet. Bandoleros and skirmishes of the Almohads have generated fear among the population that refuses to live in a border town with death. King Alfonso X, the 26 June 1273, knows he must give up something if you want to continue with his dream of conquest and repopulation south. Grant then those who inhabit the lodgings Malagosto port (Oteruelo old term) tax exemptions. Established a privilege exempting the inhabitants of these rural mountain areas "around chest, and of any order, and all service, and all fosado, e fonsadera ... ". Ie, those who spend their lives among these hills and valleys will do in exchange for a better future for their own. Many come to appointments, but the security problem is still present.

The Quinonez

Muslims and rugged outlaws using the situation of these settlements to hit its inhabitants often. The situation is so serious, that the earth begins to give who demonstrate that accommodates defend. In particular, every man who had a horse and a lance obtained a land Quiñon, it was a fiscal. Requiring the possession of a horse because they themselves had to defend their land. The Christian nobles are unable to attack in every corner of the map and, also, defend small rural.

Two leaders Segovia, Sanz and Garcia Fernan Day, take the initiative and create a military force itself. The ordinances set in Segovia 1302 the valley of the Lozoya be divided into four squads: Rascafría, Oteruelo, Alameda and Pinilla. Each one of these locations has its own military body, comprising 25 men, which is in charge of defending the territory. Quinones are born. A hundred knights that patrol the valley and, novelty, also impart justice. The King and his agents the power delegated to them to decide what is right in those areas and what is unlawful. The professional gentlemen, were not only a military; both became protagonists of a self-jurisdiction. It then shows the Bridge of Forgiveness and the House of Gallows. Two stone buildings that still remain. The first, remains intact, front of the Monastery of Paular, with sturdy walls and water under the arches ringing. The second also, but belongs to private logging, Belgian Society of Pine Paular, and to visit there to ask permission to managers. The two form a curious story. Beginning and end of man-.

The Bridge of Forgiveness

The Quinonez decided to dispense justice on the Bridge of Forgiveness. A step dating 1302 and served to the monks of Paular to cross the river Lozoya. The current bridge, however, is of the eighteenth century, as the former deteriorated by the extreme hardness of the climate of the area. There were taken prisoners had been captured by the civilian militia. In step, waited four representatives of the Knights, one for each of the four crews in which the valley was divided, questioned and listened to the arguments of the accused. One last chance for the prisoner could convince his captors of his innocence or at least, hence the name of the bridge, forgiveness. And is that for those with at least three votes against innocent, the next destination was waiting a mile above, towards the port of Boundaries: the House of Gallows. Death or life depending on the distributers of Justice decided that the prisoner was to turn his steps to the right or left.

On the way they act, that is not perfectly observed, different theories have been written. Some speak of it began patrolling on Sundays, when people came to Mass, and people were at the mercy of bandits and Muslim. Others believe it was after the dirge, when the hundred lances who went out to capture violated the rules.

But, payment that was given to these men and their descendants was consistent to the mentality of the time. Almost 150 years after they reached the valleys and decided to risk their lives to make a fortune, were wiped. At least, privileges were deleted. There is no longer the enemy lurking borders and Almohad kings and nobles do not have to give up anything to earn rentals. They have the power and now want to regain ground. As happened with the military orders that helped in the Reconquista, were canceled or assumed as part of the army. Some say they were forced to make a forced sale of all his possessions by 24.000 maravedies in 1442. Other, the nail was put the Catholic Monarchs, that as they did with most of exemptions had been granted other monarchs and wealth to the crown removed, decided to eliminate their benefits and, to which they chose, make them part of his troops.

Monastery of the Paular

Legend has it that this imposing building, which has in some artistic gems, born from a nightmare that haunts a monarch to the afterlife. The King, Henry II of Castile raves on his death bed under remorse for having set fire to a convent during war campaigns in French territory. Indicates your child then, Juan I of Castile exactly where to erect a building to clean their shame. He tells you to do so with a chapel was known as Santa Maria del Paular. All for trying to cross to the other sinless life. In fact, The monastery is dedicated to the same order, the Carthusians, he belonged to the convent that was ash in neighboring.

But the construction of the monastery did not respond to the urgencies of the old father. More than four centuries had to pass so that the work was completed. Four centuries have been engraved on its walls, on the facade, inside. Gothic, revival, Baroque and Flemish architectural styles are can be seen in the building.

The monastery became an important spiritual enclave. All monarchs granted him privileges. Among his stays out the paper which published the first Don Quixote and Don Quixote and farmed fish has many royal banquets. And in 1403 was sent out a small palace for short stays kings pass it. Stresses the churchyard, covers Gothic and Elizabethan alabaster altarpiece. But what is really striking in the enclosure is the ornate chapel of the Sagrario. The chapels and tabernacle form a set that began in 1719, reforming the old chapel. This is one of the most beautiful baroque buildings of Spain. An explosion of colors and shapes, as happened to half of Spain, lost custody of his great baroque, the 24 pounds of silver, the passage of Napoleon's troops.

Then came the confiscation of Mendizabal and forgetting. At the beginning of last century, however, the recovery room by the nearby presence influenced Belgian Society Lumber Company of Pine Paular helping to create a cultural atmosphere that makes it a meeting place for painters and artists. And 1954 returns to the monastery town, Benedictine monks now, and the palace has been converted into a hotel, For those who want to end their journey through the history between these walls, I recommend that you come up there for a coffee.

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You can access the A-1 or A-6, taking the deviations of the m 604 o M 601 respectively.

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Hotel Sheraton Santa Maria del Paular. It is the former palace of Paular. Fancy place, quiet and charming. http://www.sheratonelpaular.com/

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-We definitely recommend the restaurant Corralón DDEL The Reservoir, in the nearby village of Pinilla del Valle. A renovated barn next to the swamp. It's beautiful, romantic winter with a cozy fireplace. Comfort food, grilled meats, roasted…

http://www.elcorralondelembalserestaurante.com/

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-Walking in the nearby mountains and visit the Monastery of Paular. A delight for the senses.

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