Mejorada, Spain

Mejorada is a village located in the province of Toledo, Castile-La Mancha, Spain. According to the 2006 census (INE), the municipality has a population of 1323 inhabitants.NameAt the beginning the village was called 'Malpartida' because of the trouble to fit it into the lands of Ávila, Oropesa or Talavera. On the 14th century, along with the expansion of its territories, the name Malpartida was finally changed for 'Mejorada' due to the improvements made on its territorial situation and to relieve the villagers who thought the previous name brought bad luck.LocationThe village is settled in the region of the 'Sierra de San Vicente', which is a subregion of Talavera. Mejorada adjoins Montesclarod to the North, Segurilla to the East, Talavera to the South and Velada to the West.It is located in the area enclosed between the Tagus river and the Tiétar river, a place called 'El Berrocal'The Guadyerbas River sets the northern frontier of the territory, and several streams, the largest being the Riolobos.Main sights and monumentsThe CastleMejorada holds the ruins of a castle placed around 250 meters southeast of the village center.It is supposed to have been built on the 13th century, linked to the creation of the Estate of Mejorada, when king Sancho IV of Castile gave the village to the knight Juan García de Toledo on July 1288, who would become the first Lord of Mejorada.The fortress was built to enforce the lords of the village against the council of Talavera. The castle would then became the main symbol of the strength of nobility opposite the ecclesiastical power.The castle is built on a 78 feet side square with rounded turrets on each corner. The main entrance is placed looking west, in which wall there is a great mid medieval rectangular keep. The masonry and brick walls are approximately 5 feet thick.