Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Gormaz
Gormaz is a municipality in the southern part of the province of Soria.
The company was established in 1807 in the north of the Duero River, near the hill on which the Caliphate fortress of Gormaz stands.
The country's economy is primarily based on cereal crops, mainly wheat, construction, the service sector, and, to a lesser extent, sheep farming.
The region has been inhabited for thousands of years and has a rich history. The first occupations of the territory date back to the Bronze Age, when a small group of livestock farmers settled in the area.
The area has yielded archaeological remains of a 4th-century pre-Roman necropolis. Excavations on the southern slope have revealed the remains of a Celtic hillfort, as well as evidence of Roman and Visigothic settlements.
During the Middle Ages, the municipality became a focal point in the conflict between Arabs and Christians. In the 9th century, the Arabs constructed a castle on the hill. This was subsequently captured by the Christians in 912 and recaptured by the Arabs during the Caliphate of Al-Hakem II. Following its conquest by the Christians in the 10th century, the region was not fully under their control until 1060, when Fernando I finally took control of it. It is worth noting that Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar, better known as El Cid, was lord of Gormaz at this time.
The town boasts several notable religious buildings, including the 17th-century Church of San Juan Bautista, the ruins of the Church of Santiago, which surround the municipal cemetery, and the chapel of San Miguel, situated on the hillside.
Furthermore, the town boasts a justice roll and a Roman bridge, rectified by the Arabs and rebuilt in 1864, which allows for the crossing of the Duero River.
Gormaz’s most notable landmark is the aforementioned caliphal fortress, which is situated at the summit of the hill. This fortress is the largest of its kind in Europe and was designated a National Monument in 1931.
The patron saint festivities in Gormaz are held in honour of San Juan Bautista on 12 and 13 August.
For those with an interest in hiking, the GR-86 passes through the area. Furthermore, the Camino del Cid passes through the village on stage 8.