Mondoñedo

Mondoñedo
Municipality
Entrance to the Sanctuary of Remedios Entrance to the Sanctuary of Remedios
Flag of Mondoñedo Flag Coat of arms of Mondoñedo Coat of arms
Mondoñedo Location in Spain
Coordinates:
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Galicia
Province	Lugo
Comarca	Mariña Central
Government
• Mayor	Orlando González Cruz
Area
• Total	142.66 km2 (55.08 sq mi)
Elevation	141 m (463 ft)
Population (2009)
• Total	4,508
• Density	32/km2 (82/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Mindonienses
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	27740

Mondoñedo is a small town and municipality in the Galician province of Lugo, Spain. As of 2009, the town has a population of 4,508. Mondoñedo occupies a sheltered valley among the northern outliers of the Cantabrian Mountains. Despite being the core of the region of La Mariña, it is the city with the third biggest population after Foz and Burela.

The municipality of Mondoñedo is in the northern half of the province of Lugo and is bordered on the north by the municipalities of Foz and Alfoz, to the south by Pastoriza and Riotorto, to the east by Lorenzana and to west with Abadín.

The population of Mondoñedo is distributed throughout the 15 parishes that make up the council.

History

After having been for nearly a century and a half in the hands of the Moors, Mondoñedo was recaptured by Ordoño I of Asturias in 858; and the Christian possession was made permanent by Alfonso III of León in 870. It was taken by surprise by the French in 1809 during the Napoleonic Wars.

The Galician Province of Mondoñedo disappeared in 1833 when all the seven provinces of Galicia were reduced to four, and the entire Province of Mondoñedo was first divided into two halves and later absorbed and assimilated into the existing provinces of Lugo and A Coruña.

Main sights

The town was declared a national cultural-historical site in 1985. Its main attraction is the Cathedral, begun in Romanesque style around 1230. It reflects an unusual mixture of styles: Gothic in the nave and the aisles, and Baroque in the its 18th century towers. The polychrome statue in the high altar, called Nuestra Señora la Inglesa (the English Madonna) was rescued from the St. Paul Cathedral in London during the Protestant Reformation of Henry VIII of England.

The Sanctuary of Remedios and the Hospital of San Pablo are both from the 16th century.

The Caves of King "Cintolo" ("Covas do Rei Cintolo") are also located in the outskirts of the town.

Demography

From:INE Archiv

Festivals

• As San Lucas. This celebration is of uncertain origin but was probably first celebrated in the year 1156 when Alfonso VII was granted the title to the of city Mondoñedo. This is when the celebrations began in honor of San Lucas.
• As Quendas. The first news about this holiday goes back to the sixteenth century. These festivals are held in the first days of May.
• Os Remedios. This festival is celebrated the first Sunday after September 8.
• Mercado Medieval. One of the most anticipated holiday by the people of Mondoñedo. It is held the second weekend of August.

International relations

See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain

Twin towns – Sister cities

Mondoñedo is twinned with

• Ferrol, Spain, since 2004
• Tréguier, France, since 2000

See also

• Mailoc or Maeloc
• Province of Mondoñedo
• Diocese of Ferrol-Mondoñedo

References

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: 

External links

• History of Mondoñedo (Spanish)
• Mondoñedo's Website (Spanish)