Hervás was founded in the XII century around a hermitage that was located next to the river Santihervás and from which its name is derived. This hermitage was originally built by the Knights Templar but the Order was disolved at the beginning of the XIII. In the same place, a castle was built that had incoporated into it a church. Around the castle houses and other dwellings were built seeking protection in the shadow of power.
In the XV century a jewish community became established next to the river Ambroz. Made up of 45 families, the jews were eventually expelled from Spain by order of the Catholic Kings in 1494.
Hervás was owned by the Duke of Béjar from 1396 but gained title as an independent town in 1816, a date sybolized in the 'rollo' or legal pillar in the town centre.
From this time the jewish quarter has been retained and restored to a high level. So much so that the whole area was declared to be of national artistic value in 1969. This provided it with 'protected' status. The jewish quarter, located on the NE part of the town is characterised by ancient houses still made from mud bricks and chestnut wood. The winding streets are covered with cobbles and are narrow to protect from the heat of the summer sun and the houses are tightly packed into a small space.
Hervas belongs to the network of Jewish Quarters of Spain and forms part of the Camino de Sefarad, together with other town including Cáceres, Toledo, Córdoba, León and Barcelona.
Read more about HERVÁS from the webiste http://www.hervas.com/
More information:
http://www.hervas.com/
http://www.hervasviva.com/ /
http://www.hervas.org/
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