Navarrete, La Rioja
| Navarrete | ||
|---|---|---|
| municipality | ||
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_-_Municipality_Map.svg) Location within La Rioja. |
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| Coordinates: 42°26′N 2°33′W / 42.433°N 2.550°W | ||
| Country | Spain | |
| Autonomous community | La Rioja | |
| Comarca | Rioja Media | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Julio Víctor Laguens Velasco (PP) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 28.49 km2 (11.00 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 512 m (1,680 ft) | |
| Population (2006) | ||
| • Total | 2,660 | |
| • Density | 93.37/km2 (241.8/sq mi) | |
| Time zone | CET (UTC+1) | |
| • Summer (DST) | CET (UTC+2) | |
| Website | http://www.ayuntamientonavarrete.org | |
| 11 km to Logroño | ||
Navarrete is a municipality of the autonomous community of La Rioja, Spain, with a population of 2,660 (as of January 2006) and an area of 28.49 km2. Named a conjunto histórico of Spain, Navarrete is located between Logroño and Nájera on the Way of St. James, a medieval pilgrim route.
Rioja wine is very important to Navarrete's economy. There are still some old potteries in the upper part of the town, although the industry has relocated to the lower part of town, next to the communication routes.
The historic centre of the town is built on a hill called Tedeón (512 m), from which the town has since expanded. The municipality borders Fuenmayor to the north, Logroño and Lardero to the east, Entrena, Medrano, Hornos de Moncalvillo, and Sotés to the south, and Huércanos and Cenicero to the west.
The origin of the name Navarrete is uncertain. Navarrete was founded by the King of Castile as part of a plan to defend his borders and the name appears to have some relation to the neighbouring Kingdom of Navarre. One theory notes that the word "Nafarrate" in Basque means "Door of Navarre"; the later castellanization of the name would give rise to the present spelling.
Alfonso VIII of Castile proposed to the inhabitants of the old villages of the zone that they relocate in a defensive place. These villages were known by the name of Corcuetos and their names were: San Llorente, San Antolín, San Pedro and Nuestra Señora del Prado. Their population settled around a castle raised on Tedeón hill, thus founding the new villa of Navarrete. The castle was fortified and protected with a small wall, that enclosed the settlement and it defended it from the possible attacks that threatened from the north.
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Wikipedia