Puntos de Interés
Municipality
Abelón
Time has stood still in the tranquil village of Abelon. As in other locations within the Sayago region, this locality, which is situated within the municipality of Mayoral de Sayago, has retained its traditional stone architectural style. This is characterised by several distinctive features, including the presence of large boats on the floor of the houses, the prezacasa (an interior vestibule with access to the rest of the rooms), the bell chimneys in the kitchen and the cortinas (stone wall fences).
In addition to the ancient urban style, the landscape is characterised by extensive pastureland and the presence of three streams: the Peña Velasco, the Llaga and the Cunca. These streams ultimately flow into the river Duero through an impressive waterfall, known as the Cascada de Abelón (Abelón Waterfall).
The prevailing hypothesis is that the name Abelon derives from the Roman goddess Belona, Bellum in Latin, whose Greek equivalent is Ennius. In mythology, she is identified as the sister or wife of Mars, thereby associating her with the warrior aspect of the god. Indeed, the term Bellum ultimately led to the Spanish words beligerante and bélico. The first clear allusion to Abelón in a written record is not until the 13th century, when it is associated with the repopulation carried out under the rule of the Kingdom of León in the Sayago region. Since then and up to today, its inhabitants have continued to carry out the traditional trades associated with this land, with agriculture and livestock farming being the main sectors of local employment.
The Plazuela de Abelón is home to a Romanesque-era church dedicated to San Martín and a transept with an image of Christ, both constructed from granite. This material is also used for most of the buildings in the area. As stated in the inscription on the church itself, the temple was renovated in 1894. Despite this, it retained its Romanesque essence, evident in its quadrangular nave and characteristic granite masonry.
In addition to the religious heritage, several pre-Roman and Roman remains have been discovered in Abelón. These include sections of the Calzada Romana Mirandesa and a pair of small figures carved in granite in the shape of a bull or a cat, which were discovered during the construction of the new rectory next to the bones of what must have been an ancient tomb.
The celebrations in honour of the patron saint of Abelón are held on 11 November, in commemoration of San Martín. Nevertheless, the most significant celebrations are those of San Felipe, which take place on 1 May. They commence with a pilgrimage in honour of the Virgin of San Vicente and conclude with a verbena that continues until the early hours of the morning. Additionally, during the second half of August, the village hosts a series of events to celebrate the holidays, which are attended by the children of the village who typically reside elsewhere. These events feature a variety of traditional meals and village festivals.