[ENG-SPN] Returning to the snows of yesteryear / A vueltas con las nieves de antaño
Next to the farm fields that make up the surroundings of the town of Castellar de la Muela, located on the side of the main road that connects Molina de Aragón with Teruel, a solitary hermitage, crudely made, but with a lot of charm, powerfully calls the attention of the traveler, who, intentionally or occasionally, spends a day there. This is the hermitage of the Virgin of the Carrasca - the holm oak, in popular speech, is a way of referring to the holm oak - the only testimony of the place, where an old Templar convent was located, a detail supported more by popular tradition. , which due to reliable documentation, which, unfortunately, except for some very decisive cases and unlike the notable inventories of France, where, for political and especially economic reasons, a more than notable job was done with the accounting of the assets of the Order, in Spain, could be said to be almost non-existent.
Solitary, then, in these helpless expanses that turn their backs on the important Lordship of Molina de Aragón, the roofed porch of the old Templar hermitage serves today as a refuge for the shepherd; of continent to the wasp nests and the occasional nest of happy swallows; as a parapet to the cunning fox, who dreams, from the shadows, of the succulent chicken coops of the town's residents and also, occasionally, as a meeting place for the pilgrims, who there, at the time of the traditional blessing of the fields, return to transfer here, for a few hours, the original image of its Black Virgin, which, during the rest of the year, remains safe in its parish church.
Junto a los campos de labrantío que conforman el entorno del pueblo de Castellar de la Muela, situado a la vera de la carretera general que conecta Molina de Aragón con Teruel, una solitaria ermita, de tosca factura, pero con mucho encanto, llama poderosamente la atención del viajero, que, de forma intencionada o de manera ocasional, pasa un día por allí. Se trata de la ermita de la Virgen de la Carrasca -la carrasca, en el habla popular, es una forma de referirse a la encina- único testimonio del lugar, donde se situaba un antiguo convento de templarios, detalle avalado más por la tradición popular, que por una fehaciente documentación, que, desgraciadamente, salvando algunos casos muy determinantes y a diferencia de los notables inventarios de Francia, donde, por motivos políticos y sobre todo económicos, sí se hizo una más que notable labor con la contabilidad de los bienes de la Orden, en España, se podría decir que es poco menos que inexistente.
Solitaria, pues, en estas desamparadas extensiones que dan la espalda al importante Señorío de Molina de Aragón, el pórtico techado de la vieja ermita templaria, sirve hoy de refugio al pastor; de continente a los avisperos y algún que otro nido de alegres golondrinas; de parapeto al astuto zorro, que sueña, desde la sombras, con los suculentos gallineros de los vecinos del pueblo y también, ocasionalmente, como lugar de reunión de los romeros, que allá, por la época de la tradicional bendición de campos, vuelven a trasladar aquí, por unas horas, la imagen original de su Virgen Negra, que, durante el resto del año, permanece a buen recaudo en su iglesia parroquial.
NOTICE: Both the text and the accompanying photographs are my exclusive intellectual property and are therefore subject to my Copyright.
AVISO: Tanto el texto, como las fotografías que lo acompañan, son de mi exclusiva propiedad intelectual y por lo tanto, están sujetos a mis Derechos de Autor.
The hermitage of the Virgin Of Carrasca look amazing and stunning. Thank for sharing.
A quiet and interesting place. Thank you for appreciating it.
It looks like a beautiful and peaceful place, thank you for the photos. It would be good for me to retreat to this place for a few days :)
It is, without a doubt, a peaceful place, located in the center of an eminently agricultural environment and surrounded by crop fields that give it a special appearance. Thank you very much for your comment and best regards.
That tree is actually looking like a Christmas tree
Hahaha
Nice post!
Curiously, this is no ordinary tree: it is a cypress. Tree, which, due to its rich symbology and because, unlike others, it never loses its leaves, is associated with resurrection and therefore, with immortality. In fact, it is the tree most frequently seen in cemeteries.
These are really amazing pictures as usual I must confess
Thank-you very much
These is really an amazing shot and this is looking so awesome
It is a truly beautiful temple, although the scaffolding, unfortunately, does not allow it to be observed in all its extension and beauty.