Today we intend through images to let you know one of the most beautiful medieval towns in Spain. For this we have to go to the Burgos region of Las Merindades. In which we find, on a platform that completely dominates the course of the Ebro river, this municipality of just over 200 inhabitants, a figure that is multiplied widely on weekends or vacation dates.
Its history dates back to the 9th century, in full Christian repopulation after the Muslim conquest of the Iberian Peninsula. Although the first constructions began shortly after, it was not recognized as “civitas until the 12th century. ”. But from that point on, with the remodeling of its castle, Frías began an unstoppable rise in importance within the region.
The granting of Fuero de Logroño by Alfonso VIII in 1202, led it to become a favorite focus of trade and craftsmen, which led it to house a large Jewish community. The city continued to progress under the shadow of its castle, until it became a full-fledged city and was donated to the Count of Haro by King Juan II in 1535. Incidentally, a festival is still celebrated today that commemorates the revolts against the lord imposed by the king of Navarre and Aragon. Finally, the Catholic Monarchs converted it into a ducal city, after imposing the title on Bernardino Fernández Velasco, in 1492. Only the wars of Independence and Carlist wars of the 19th century could put medieval constructions in trouble, especially the castle, which would suffer the most serious consequences. .
There are several must-see places:the castle of the Velasco family in one of the vertices of Mola, which is undoubtedly the largest work of all those built in Frías, in addition one of the best examples of defensive construction that we can find. Right at the other end of said mola, the church of San Vicente, built from the 13th century. Between both constructions, a large part of the houses were located in the typical network of medieval alleys, in them we can today see a Jewish quarter, or a small neighborhood with hanging houses.
To all this we must add some visits in the vicinity, including the hermitage of Santa María de Hoz surrounded by the beautiful river Molinar, or a medieval bridge that crosses the mighty Ebro. more, I leave you with this small gallery of images of Frías.
