Cobeja
Hermitage
Church of San Juan Bautista
Information about Cobeja:
Telephone: 925 551 940
Web: https://aytocobeja.es/index.php/el-municipio/monumentos
Info:
Email: cobejaayto@outlook.com
Cobeja's roots go back to pre-Roman times, according to archaeological remains found in the area, although it was not until the Christian repopulation of the 12th century that the present-day town began to emerge. The past of this municipality reveals that it came to have an important historical heritage forged over the centuries, but different vicissitudes, at different times in its history, meant that hardly any of this rich heritage reflected in the documents of yesteryear has been preserved. Therefore, what the visitor will be able to find of that past is its medieval urban layout and its Fuente de Piedra, dating from the 18th century, and at the same time he will discover a charming village, adapted to the present times with contemporary constructions, which invite the visitor to enjoy the quiet life of a village but from the 20th century.. In addition, the visitor can enjoy an interesting industrial heritage, including this town in the routes of this type of tourism, this is due to the variety of chimneys and brick factories that confirm the importance of this municipality in the industrialization of our country and that today, are witnesses of this recent industrial past.
The soil of its territory is flat, made up of clays, gypsiferous loams and carbonate arkose with excellent fertility, rich in clay handicraft possibilities. This characteristic was soon known and exploited initially by primitive man and contemporaneously with the introduction of brick and tile ceramics. The predominance of the plain and the picturesque characteristics of its soils mean that its land is rich in cereal crops, which is why this municipality is considered, along with others in this region, to be the granary of La Sagra. Different paths cross the plains of its cereal fields and allow visitors to enjoy relaxing walks or bike rides to contemplate the immensity of the Toledo plateau.
Tourist Information
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What to see?
Nothing ancient remains of the body of the church, dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, except for the tower. Due to its poor condition, and without any historical value, its interior having been looted and destroyed during our Civil War, it was demolished in 1972, and the present church was built on the same site, of exposed brick, with one nave and a functional style, with beautiful stained glass windows, representing God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit and another, the largest, in front of the main altar, representing the Holy Supper. An image of Jesus carrying the Cross is by Malagón; the wooden images on the main altar are by José del Toro. The Mudejar church tower dates from 1788. It is a brick building in three sections, with two openings for the bells and a clock in the last section. It is covered with a black slate capital and a lead boss. One of the bells named "Santa María" seems to be the work of Rebollar. The other has an inscription that reads: "May the heart of Jesus sacramentalised be forever blessed and praised". The clock, which was completely repaired in 1985, comes from the famous clockmaker Canseco and was bought on 6 December 1887 for 2,073 pesetas. His clocks achieved fame and reputation, being his works the clock of the cathedral of Madrid, the one of the palace of Oriente, the one of El Escorial and the one of the hospital Gómez Ulla. The baptismal font is also preserved from the old church: a piece carved in granite with gadroons dating from 1603.
It can be seen to be dated to the time of Charles IV, whose inscription, carved on it, reads: "Reigning Charles III, year 1702; Celestino Fernandes being mayor; this work was done at the expense of his own people". It consists of a central body with four very clear stone reeds, which have channelled the water from a natural underground spring from the Arena Alta, which crosses a large part of the town's layout. Until the mid-1950s it was the only source of water for the village, as well as for several neighbouring villages. Today only this part is preserved, surrounded by a pylon that collects the water. In the past, there was a large basin, with a section that served as a watering place for animals and another as a washing place.
As in other municipalities in the region of La Sagra, the existence of brick chimneys is very common, as these villages have been known for the manufacture of this building material, and the chimney and factory of Cobeja is good proof of this.
