CASTILLA LA VIFJA. 



CASTILLA LA VTRJA. 



Auuon.] jUsteyr*, It mile. &E. from 



Ciudad Real, U itu*ted" in a fertile plain, which produce* com, oil, 

 and wine. U h celebrated for iU mule*. which are oaoctdered among 

 the tmt in Spun, for the sale of which n annual fnir u held. It 

 ho extroive manufacture* of Uce : population, 12,000. Daimlrl, 

 90 mile. N.K fromCiudad Real, stand* in a dUtrict whet* there an 

 xtoowvo alt-manhe*. It IIM manufacture* of woollen* and linen*, 



and u a flourishing plac* : the population in 1845 wai 9134. H 

 m, J7 mile* E. from Ciudad Real, stand* in a plain. It contain* a 

 paruh ohorch, hospital, cavalry barrack*, and an old caatle : popu- 

 lation. 8500. MOM, 6 mile* aK. from Maannara*. ha* manufacture* 

 of lineaa awl woollen* : population, 4400. Vai At /'rtloi, SO mile* 

 a& from Ciudad Real, U Urge straggling town, celebrated for the 

 nd wine which U made from the Tina grown in the surroiuxling 

 rocky diatriot : population, 9870. 



(Minano, Dieevmmria Unyrajleo de Sipana; Dietiannmin Ofoan- 

 AIOM ; if apt / Ikt Society /or (A* IHfution of U*fl Knowledge; 

 Ford, Hand*** o/ Spain ; Madog, ZNrciotiano <lt JSipaAa.) 



CASTILLA LA VIEJA, an ancient province of Spain, one of the 

 two divWnn* of the ancient kingdom of CaatUla, u bounded N. by 

 UM By of Biscay and province of Vizcaya, W. by Leon and Astu- 

 riaa, K. by Navam and Aragon, and a by Catilla la Nueva. It is 







between 40* 6' and 43 32' N. lat, 1 40' and 5 35' W. long. 

 It* form U very irregular : the greatest length from north to south 

 i* about 820 mile*, the greatest breadth from ea*t to went is about 

 130 mile*, but in some part* leas than 30 miles. It comprise* the 

 following modern provinces : 



Burgos occupies the western part of the province, Segovia and 

 Avila the south-western, Soria and Logrono the eastern, and San- 

 tander the northern. 



Surface. The continuous chain of lofty mountains which extends 

 in a south-western direction from the mountain mass of the Moncayo 

 in Aragon to Estremadura, separates Castilla la Nueva from Castilla 

 la Vieja, and divide* the waters which fall into the Tagus from 

 those which fall into the Douro (in Spanish Duero). The names of 

 the different portions of thin series of lofty sierras have been 

 mentioned under CASTILLA LA No ETA. The northern part of the 

 province is crossed by the Cantabrian mountain range, a continuation 

 of the Pyrenees, and thi* range separates the province of Santander 

 from that of Burgos. The Sierra do Deza extends from the Moncayo 

 in a south-west direction through the province of Soria, and unites 

 with the Somoeierra ; whilst other mountain groups extend from the 

 Moncayo north-westward towards Burgos, separating the streams 

 which fall into the Duero from those which fall into the Kliro. 

 North-east of the city of Burgos the Sierra de Oca, one of these 

 groups, extend* northward and joins the Cantabrian chain, separating 

 the head-waters of the Pisuerga from those of the Ebro. In the 

 south-west the province of Avila passes over the Sierra de Avila into 

 the basin of the Tagus. The greater part of Castilla la Vieja is 

 BBonntainou*, but it has one large plain which U crossed by the 

 Duero and it* numerous tributaries, the northern part of it belonging 

 to the department of Burgos, which extends south nearly to the 

 Duero ; the eastern part, which is hilly, to that of Soria, while the 

 outhecn and western portions of it form the greater part of the dc- 

 partnieat* of Begovia and Avilu. There are other smaller plains between 

 the different mountain groups, an well as numerous fertile valleys. 

 The general height of the plains is not much less than 3000 feet. 

 The province of Santander is almost entirely covered by high 

 mountain*, offlwU from the Cantabrian chain ; they are furrowed by 

 deep and narrow valleys, and extend northward about 25 miles to 

 UM shore* of the Bay of Biscay. The coast-line of this province is 

 boot 80 miles hi length. 



Tb* great mountain range which separate the two Camillas con- 

 hta at primitive rocks ; the two great plains on each side of that 

 nog* we lacustrine deposit* of limestone, with fresh-water fossils. 

 The Moocayo u a mas* of old red-sandstone and mountain-limestone. 

 Ar.-Catilla la Vieja has a general slope to the west, and is 

 drained by the Duero and its affluents ; but the portion which is 

 orth-en* of the Sierra de Oca i* drained by the Kl.r,. and its 

 affluent* ; while the rivers of the province of Santandrr have all a 

 short and rapid ooarse northward to the sea. The Duero rises in 

 this province, and after flowing southward put the town of Soria 

 take* a western course, tad enter* the province of Leon. [Dor BO 1 

 The Ucero ha* a *nuthrrn course, and fall* into the Duero on the 

 orth side. The ArUnton ha* a wwtorn oonrae pact Burgos ; it then 

 turn* to the south-week, and having received the Arlania, which has 



western course pact Lerma, eaten the Piiuerg*, a large tributary 

 which flows couth and (oath-west through the province of Leon. 

 The Kiaca, the Piroo and Oga (which unite), and the Kresma and 

 Adaja (which alao unite), fall into the Duero on the southern aide. 

 There are several smaller affluent*, which in summer are reduced to 

 mere brooks, but during the rain* of *pring and autumn become rapid 

 torrent*. The Kbro crosses the northern part of the province of 

 Bono*, and form* the north eajtom boundary of that of Soria. It 

 receive* the Neb* on the northern bank, and the Oca, the Tiroa, and 

 the Oj*> on the southern bank. The principal rivers of the province 

 of Santander are the Deba, the Nansa, the Besaya, the Mien, and 

 the Anton. 



Climate and Production*. The climate i* excessively hot in 

 summer, and very cold in winter. A cold boisterous wind blows in 

 October, and snow covers the ground often for three month*, and 

 recta on the summit* of the mountains for a great part of the year. 

 The surface of the great plain is of a truly monotonous character : 

 U is arid, without meadows or trees, covered with a scanty 

 vegetation, which in summer almost entirely disappear*. A consider- 

 able quantity of wheat is exported, but care is paid especially to the 

 rearing and feeding of sheep, the number of which i* very groat. 

 In summer the mountain pastures of the sierras are frequented by 

 countless numbers of migratory sheep, which remain here till the 

 beginning of October, when they commence their return to Andalucia 

 for the winter. The inhabitants live in hamlets, which are often 

 several miles distant from each other. The want of wood for fuel i* 

 greatly felt The offshoots of the mountains on the borders of the 

 plain are covered with underwood and evergreens, and in many place* 

 with extensive forests ; and in the sheltered parts peas, wine, wheat, 

 and oil are abundantly produced. The manufactures of Old Castile 

 are confined to coarse woollens, cotton, linen, leather, and glass. On 

 the eastern side of the Sierra de Oca the country is very mountainous, 

 but contains many fertile valleys and high plains, in which corn, 

 wine, and all kinds of fruits, except oranges and lemons, are 

 produced. This portion of the province forms the northern part of 

 the provinces of Burgos and Soria. Sheep, mules, pigs, asses, and 

 horned cattle are very numerous, and form the principal wealth of 

 the country. The mountains are cold and wild, but in summer afford 

 excellent pasturage; and in many places they are covered with 

 forests of chestnut, fir, and pine. Iron and other minerals abound, 

 but no mines are worked. In the province of Santander, maize, 

 wheat, and wine of inferior quality are produced. The highlands 

 contain fine pasturage, and in many places are covered with forests of 

 chestnut, oak, pine, and fir. A great deal of butter is made. Goals 

 are very numerous. There are iron-mines, from which a considerable 

 quantity of iron of the beat quality is obtained. 



Town*. Burgot is the capital of the province of Burgos. [Bonoos.] 

 Aranda, 48 miles S. from Burgos, stands on the north bank of the 

 Duero, among plantations of vines. The river is here crossed by a 

 good bridge. The town contains a gothic church and a bishop's 

 palace : population, 4000. flririeica, 25 miles N.K. from Burgos, 

 stands near the west bank of the Oca. It is a squniv town, regularly 

 built, and walled : population, 2500. Lerma, 25 miles S. from Burgos, 

 stands on the south bank of the Arlanza. It cont .ins a fine old 

 palace, built by the Cardinal-Duke of Lerma : population, 2000. 

 Miranda del Ebro, 50 miles N.K. from Burgos, is situated on the 

 southern bank of the Ebro, which is here crossed by a stone bridge 

 of six arches : population about 3000. 



LoffroHo is the capital of the province of Logrono. This province 

 is of recent formation. It extends along the right bank of the Ebro, 

 from near Miranda del Ebro to Alfaro and southward to the Sierra 

 de Oca, thus including portions of territory which previously 

 belonged to the provinces of Burgos and Soria. The town of 

 Logrono is about (!7 miles E. by N. from Burgos. It is situated on 

 the southern bank of the Ebro, which is here crowed by a strong 

 bridge, built in 1138. It is surrounded by walls, outxiilc of 

 there are two suburbs. It is a well-.built town. Tin TO un- - 

 churches, a college, and a theatre, and some manufactures of lr 

 hats, and brandy : population, 7000. The plains about the town are 

 very fertile in corn. Alfaro, 87 miles E.S.E. from Logrono, stands 

 on the Alama near the right bank of the Ebro. It is a walled town, 

 contains a collegiate church, and has manufactures of soap ami 

 leather: population, 4000. Arnrdo, 32 miles S.E. from Logrono, is 

 situated in a fertile district, and has a good trade in wine and fruits : 

 population, 8500. Calahorra, 27 miles E.S.E. from Logrono, is 

 situated on a gentle eminence, at the foot of which the Cidacos 

 enters the Ebro. It is the Calagurri of the Unmans, and was a very 

 strong place, celebrated for the sieges by Pompeius and Afronius. 

 It was the birthplace of Quintilian. Portions of a circus, an aque- 

 duct, a naumachia, and towers, have been traced. It contains a 

 cathedral of mixed gothio. It is now a decayed town : population, 

 6000. Haro, 46 miles E.N.E. from Burgos, is situated at the foot of 

 a hill near the southern bank of 1 1 It has manufactures of 



hats, leather, brandy, and liqueur* : population, 6000. 



Fanlanttrr, the capital of the province of Santander, is a large town 

 and sea-port, on the shore of the Bay of Biscay, about 85 miles N. 

 from Burgos. It stands on a headland, and is a well-built town, with 

 a capacious well-sheltered harbour deep enough for large vessels. It 



