Legend has it that a shepherd walked for days near the Guadalupe River, Cáceres, looking for a lost cow. Finally got to find her but found dead. Tried fur and when he went to make the sign of the cross on his chest rose animal, was alive. Just at that moment, looking up,, Our Lady appeared to him and given the task to build there a chapel in his name. When you get to excavate the shepherd discovered a valuable carving of Santa Maria de Guadalupe, whose origin, according to some ancient manuscripts, The databa del siglo D.C.
Cervantes, He walked up the Guadalupe virgin to give the chains that had been locked in the dungeons of Oran
What began as a chapel eventually became the Royal Monastery of Guadalupe, which for centuries gave shelter to hundreds of pilgrims who traveled there to commend and thank the Virgin. A place visited kings, potato, conquerors like Columbus and Hernán Cortés and even illustrious writers such as Cervantes de Unamuno or, He walked up the Guadalupe virgin to give the chains that had been locked in the dungeons of Oran, as recorded in the books of the monastery visit.
Today the town of Guadalupe (Caceres) is the historical and monumental center of the region of Villuercas. A place of spectacular beauty and unique natural geological. Area, which includes 19 municipalities in which they live around 15.000 people Geopark was declared late 2011 due to the succession of parallel mountains that dot this mountain and its characteristic relief shaping apalachense. It takes its name from the Appalachian Mountains in the United States, because when the earth was only one continent were part of the same mountain range.
An extensive tour of 257 km. where heritage converge, artistic, cultural and landscape
Although the Camino Real has two beginnings (The Toledo Madrid) both converge on the town of La Mata from where the only way southward pilgrimage, to the Monastery of Guadalupe. An extensive tour of 257 km. where heritage converge, artistic, cultural and landscape.
Throughout the tour we will leave behind a dozen municipalities: Aranjuez and imperial palaces, the historic town of Toledo, Talavera de la Reina, Torrijos and the Palace of Peter I, Alcañizo, Oropesa, Tagus alcolea, Archbishop Bridge, Villar del Pedroso, Calvary and beautiful Mudejar chapel where many first saw the silhouette of Guadalupe, the hill of Altamira…
El Camino Real de Guadalupe was one of the communication paths used by Romans and Arabs but it was not until the construction of the Monastery of Guadalupe, in the fourteenth century, when his role became crucial.
Alfonso XI and his son Pedro I favored the creation of Secular Priory of Guadalupe and the construction of a Sanctuary. With the conquest of Seville, that moved the Spanish court to the south and left Santiago pretty far for pilgrimages, Guadalupe acquired a leading role. Were the Catholic Monarchs who popularized the Camino Real with his constant trips to this Monastery: sixteen times Queen Elizabeth traveled to Guadalupe and at least seven times, According to historians, used this way.
Were the Catholic Monarchs who popularized the Camino Real with his constant trips to this Monastery
The designation of Camino Real did not arrive until the reign of the Habsburgs. This pathway is used both for the transit of people and the goods. It was a first-order path, strategically vital to maintain communication as they used to carry the royal mail more quickly and safely. The royal roads belonged to the king and could not be invaded, or smoothed.
Guadalupe retained its pilgrim character until the seventeenth century. After cleavage of Portugal, and the Bourbons to the head of the kingdom, the center of devotion of kings and pilgrims came to move to Santiago de Compostela and Guadalupe was losing presence and projection.
