Peñahorcada Cherry

Cerezal de Peñahorcada is a Spanish municipality and town in the province of Salamanca, in the autonomous community of Castilla y León. It is integrated into the Vitigudino region and the sub-region of La Ramajería. It belongs to the judicial district of Vitigudino.

Its municipal area is made up of a single population center, it occupies a total area of 17.93 km² and according to the demographic data collected in the municipal register prepared by the INE in 2017, it has a population of 74 inhabitants. Part of its territory is located within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, a protected natural space of great environmental and tourist value.

Geography

Cerezal de Peñahorcada is located in the northwest of Salamanca. It is 93 km from Salamanca capital.

It is integrated into the region of La Ramajería. It belongs to the Centro Duero Mancomunidad and to the judicial district of Vitigudino.

Its municipal area is located within the Arribes del Duero Natural Park, a protected natural area of great tourist attraction, which in turn is part of the cross-border biosphere reserve known as the Iberian Plateau.

In its municipal area is the highest point in the entire region (836 m), the rock that gives it the nickname of "peñahorcada".

Northwest: Mieza	North: Mieza	Northeast: La Zarza de Pumareda
West: Vilvestre		This: Head of the Horse
Southwest: Vilvestre	South: Barruecopardo	Sureste: El Milano

Etymology

The term «cherry» is typical of the Leonese language, in which it would have the meaning of «cherry tree». In this sense, in the Middle Ages in the area of Leon it was quite common to use the names of trees or plants to name the towns that were founded, as can be seen in towns such as La Zarza de Pumareda, Saucelle, El Manzano, Carrascal de Barregas, Espino de la Orbada, Moral de Sayago, Carbajales de Alba, Luelmo, etc. "Peñahorcada" would refer to the treasury of the same name near the town.

Demographics

Graphic of demographic evolution of Cerezal de Peñahorcada between 1900 and 2022

Source: Spanish National Statistical Institute - Graphical development by Wikipedia.

According to the National Statistics Institute, as of January 1, 2021, Cerezal de Peñahorcada had a total population of 64 inhabitants, of whom 31 were men and 33 women. Regarding the year 2000, the census reflected 127 inhabitants, of which 71 were men and 56 women. Therefore, the loss of population in the municipality for the period 2000-2021 has been 63 inhabitants, a 50% decrease.

History

Detail of the Salmantine West on a map of the centuryXVIIIIn which you can see Cerezal.

Teso de Peñahorcada.

Its foundation responds to the repopulation process carried out by King Ferdinand II of León in the XII century, who donated the town to the Order of Santiago, remaining under it until 1873 within the bishopric of León de Santiago, which framed the Leonese territories of said Order, then, with its dissolution by papal order, to form part of the Diocese of Ciudad Rodrigo. With the creation of the current provinces in 1833, Cerezal de Peñahorcada was integrated into the province of Salamanca, within the Leonese Region.

Monuments and places of interest

• Church of San Marcos, of neoclassical influence, preserves from its Gothic origin the bow of the cover and the middle arch. Its altarpiece dates from the centuryXVIII, housing its interior also a cross of the XVI.
• Caño, stands out for its great length.

Parties

April 25 (San Marcos).

Illustrious cherry trees

• Casimiro Hernández Calvo (1941-current), senator for the province of Salamanca, first vice president of the Provincial Council of Salamanca and mayor of Vilvestre.

Administration and politics

Municipal elections

The mayor of Cerezal de Peñahorcada does not receive any type of financial benefit for his work as head of the town hall (2017).