Fregenal de la Sierra, Spain

Fregenal de la Sierra is a municipality located in the province of Badajoz, Extremadura, Spain.GeographyFregenal de la Sierra is located in the Sierra Suroeste comarca (county), among the small hills and ravines of the Sierra Morena. Fregenal de la Sierra borders Valverde de Burguillos, Burguillos del Cerro and Jerez de los Caballeros to the north, Valencia del Ventoso to the east, Bodonal de la Sierra, Segura de León and Fuentes de León to the south, and Higuera la Real to the southwest. It is the seat of the Fregenal de la Sierra judicial district (partido judicial). Fregenal is located on the EX-101, EX-201, and N-435 highways and is served by rail (on the daily Zafra-Huelva line) and by bus.EconomyFregenal de la Sierra's economy has traditionally depended on agriculture and livestock. To a lesser extent, mining has also been important; it was important as a distribution point for minerals mined in the surrounding areas. Today major industries include cork extraction and the processing of pork from Iberian pigs. Tourism is also increasing in importance.HistoryIn the vicinity of the present town lie the ruins of a Celtic fort called Nertóbriga, which became known as Nertóbriga-Concordia Iulia after the Roman conquest. This city was part of the Hispania Ulterior region in the first two centuries BC; later it became part of Hispania Baetica, where it remained for over seven centuries until the beginning of the Muslim conquest. New research in this city has uncovered a watchtower first used by the Visigoths and later by Muslims, and a Muslim cemetery. The only reference made by Christians about this city is the name Castillo de Valera, which was dated by the Knights Templar.