Horcajo de la Sierra

Heritage

Art and Culture in Horcajo

Horcajo's urbanism is highly influenced both by its farming origin and by its steep relief, having very narrow streets, with short and winding layouts. The constructions are very irregular, often with small orchards attached, and laid out forming small squares of an anarchic distribution. The village conserves a shoeing frame as a memory of its farming past, made of granitee monoliths and wooden crossbeams designed to hold the animal in place.

Another of Horcajo's landmarks is its church, dedicated to San Pedro in Cathedra, and built in Gothic style of brick and masonry. It dates back to the XVth century, and used to hold in its interior a Gothic wooden sculpture of San Pedro in Cathedra, as well as an also Gothic XVth century altarpiece, probably work of a Berruguete disciple, that has currently been moved to the Almudena Cathedral in the city of Madrid. The cemetery is attached to the church, both situated in the lower part of the village, away from the current village centre.

"La Tejera", a group of ancient constructions where an old roof tile factory used to exist, located to the north of Horcajo's road, is also worth visiting. Also in "La Tejera", closer to the river, we can find another group of constructions that used to belong to an old mill known since the beginning of the twentieth century. During the years that go from 1850 to 1950, there was great activity in the area, and during the forties, a mini power station operated right there, supplying various villages of the region, like Madarcos, Piñuecar-Gandullas, and, of course, Horcajo de la Sierra.

In Horcajo's lower lands, following the old path to Aoslos, at the crossing with the Madarquillos river, we can find the remains of an ancient bridge, built in limestone, that still preserves a roadway on the top. Also over the Madarquillos river, following the path of the Real Cañada Segoviana, lies another bridge, earlier than XVIIIth century, for the usage of cattle and people (the "cañadas" are old cattle paths used during the seasonal migration to pastures in Extremadura. Given their historical and natural value, they receive special protection in Spain).

Art and Culture in Aoslos

The settlement is arranged along the road that goes from the N-1 to Horcajo, so that its streets, most of them at right angles to the road, are very short and winding. Its edifications form wide blocks, on some cases of irregular shape, and combining houses with barns, chicken yards, cowsheds and vegetable gardens, evidencing its farming origin. Sharing this common past, Madarcos preserves several sundials that were formerly used to regulate the sharing of water from the communal irrigation channel.

In Aoslos, the old shoeing frame and the forge have been restored. We can also take a look at a drinking trough situated in the outlying area of the village, as well as a granite fountain in the village square.

In Aoslos, the old shoeing frame and the forge have been restored. We can also take a look at a drinking trough situated in the outlying area of the village, as well as a granite fountain in the village square.

Its church is of recent construction (1936), and is made of irregular limestone, giving it a coarse look. It is dedicated to Saint Isidore the Labourer, lying in a small field next to the road that forms the village's central axis.