Bembibre
Place in Castile and León, Spain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bembibre (Spanish pronunciation: [bemˈbiβɾe]) is a municipality and a city located in the region of El Bierzo, province of León, Castile and León, Spain. According to the 2014 census (INE), the municipality had a population of 9,631 inhabitants. The second largest urban settlement in the region of El Bierzo, it is considered as the capital of traditional shire called "Bierzo Alto". Two rivers crosses Bembibre: Boeza and Noceda.
Bembibre | |
|---|---|
 Coat of arms | |
| Motto: Interamnium Flavium (Between Rivers) | |
  Bembibre | |
| Coordinates: 42°36′54.98″N 6°25′12.36″W | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Castile and León |
| Province | León |
| Comarca | El Bierzo |
| Municipality | Bembibre |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | José Manuel Otero Merayo (PP) |
| Area | |
• Total | 63.42 km2 (24.49 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 644 m (2,113 ft) |
| Population (2025-01-01)[1] | |
• Total | 8,041 |
| • Density | 126.8/km2 (328.4/sq mi) |
| Demonym | bembibrense |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postal Code | 24300 |
| Telephone prefix | 987 |
| Climate | Csb |
| Website | http://www.aytobembibre.es |
History
The numerous remains of Cisastur fortifications (castros) found along the city's surroundings prove that man has inhabited these lands from ancient times. However, the origin of the current settlements goes back to the repopulations made in the Middle Ages during the centuries ninth through eleventh, linked to the Church and the edification of several monasteries in the region.
In 1490, the Jewish community of Bambiere erected a synagogue despite an existing prohibition. The parish priest, Diego González, led townspeople into the building, where they threw the Torah scroll to the ground and installed a crucifix. The Royal Council subsequently ordered that the synagogue be converted into a church, while obliging the parish to provide the Jews with another synagogue. The fate of this building is unknown following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492.[2]
Language
As in the rest of the community of Castilla y León, Spanish is the most widely spoken language and the language of instruction in schools.[citation needed]
