Frailes, Spain

Frailes
Municipality

Coat of arms
Frailes

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 37°29′11″N 3°50′14″W / 37.48639°N 3.83722°W / 37.48639; -3.83722Coordinates: 37°29′11″N 3°50′14″W / 37.48639°N 3.83722°W / 37.48639; -3.83722
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Andalucía
Province Jaén
Comarca Sierra Sur
Founded Pre-Roman
Government
 • Alcalde José Manuel Garrido Romero (PP)
Area
 • Total 41,37 km2 (1,597 sq mi)
Elevation 980 m (3,220 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 1,681
 • Density 40,63/km2 (10,520/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Frailero
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 23690
Dialing code (+34) 953 59 3x xx

Frailes is a municipality in the Spanish province of Jaén, autonomous community of Andalucia, with a total area of 41,37 km2, a population of 1775 inhabitants (INE, 2007) and a population density of 43,41 inhab/ km2. It has been immortalised by the British writer, Michael Jacobs, in his 2003 book, The Factory of Light.

Geography

Frailes is located 89 km south of the capital city, Jaén. At a height of 974 metres above sea level. Frailes municipal district includes the territories of los Bailadores, Los Baños, Los Barrancos, Cañada de Alcalá, Cañada de Nogueras, Cerrillo el Ciego, Majada Abrigada, El Nogueral, Las Parras, Puerto Blanco, Los Rosales y La Solana de la Parra. Frailes is located at the Sierra Sur de Jaén and its territory comprises primarily mountain ranges.

History

The origins of this municipality date back to the Prehistory, when Rome must have been present, as the remains of Terra Sigillata attest to. During the Spanish Muslim era there are not many records of the existence of a Muslim arrival to Frailes. Nonetheless, it wasn't until the 16th century when we started to have record of the Siege of Frailes: on 15 August 1341, Alfonso XI conquered Alcalá la Real, to whose alfoz (a group of villages) belonged Alfraylas,which from then on was incorporated to Castille. During the middle of the 16th century, the Hermitage of Santa Lucia was built next to the first Christian settlements in Frailes, partly, with the help of the contribution of Pedro de Valencia.

In 1621, the surroundings of the Hermitage of Santa Lucia was named Huerta de Santa Lucía, where the ongoing expansion of settlements took place. At the end of the 18th century, the Hermitage became a Parish. Hence, it also became the centre of the village. During the first half of the 20th century, the village will live splendeour times yet after the Civil War and the exodus of a great part of the rural population to the cities, Frailes' population would be halved to 2,000 inhabitants.

Gastronomy

Frailes' gastronomy is marked by the rural character it possesses. There's a remarkable presence of pork dishes and the traditional blood sausage, chorizo, salchichon and derivatives. Other dishes and stews such as the beans stew, ropavieja, migas or encebollado, and others like the collejas omelette or the remojón.

Among the village's desserts, the mantas, borrachuelos, polvorones and the guindas en aguardiente are the most important. Every meal is accompanied with some of the local wine, whose quality is remarkable and that is the reason why many cultural and gastronomical events are held every year.

Festivities

Fiesta del Vino in Frailes, Jaén.
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