Yernes y Tameza

Geography

The municipality encompasses the majority of the Villalibre River basin, which is a tributary of the Cubia River and exerts an influence upon it in the neighbouring municipality of Grado. The river has its source in the Marabiu mountains and flows down to the valley that separates the Yernes y Tameza into two distinct sections, each exhibiting a unique set of terrestrial characteristics. The western bank is characterised by an undulating topography, comprising a series of hills and ridges. Conversely, the terrain on the eastern bank is relatively flat and extensive.

The municipal term is situated at an altitude ranging from 400 to 1,200 meters, with slopes exceeding 21% in more than half of the surface area. The landscape is characterised by mountain ranges. In the northern part of Yernes y Tamanza, mountains such as Güey Morto and La Lloural, which are composed of siliceous rock, are prevalent. In contrast, limestone rock is the most common geological feature in the southern part of the municipality. This is exemplified by mountains such as Caldoveiro Peak, which are surrounded by ponds, chasms and caves such as Cuallagar.

History

The area was inhabited during the prehistoric and Roman periods, as evidenced by the discovery of lithic remains in numerous caves within the municipality. Additionally, during the initial decades of the 20th century, gold medals from the Roman Empire were unearthed in the village of Fuxóu.

The first documented mention of Tameza is found in a document in which King Ordoño I of Asturias made a donation to the Cathedral of San Salvador in Oviedo in 857. In 1086, a number of noblemen bequeathed half of their territory to the cathedral. In 1174, Ferdinand II of León transferred his rights over the remaining half of the territory to the Church of Oviedo, which was subsequently established as an episcopal municipality, as evidenced by the municipal coat of arms. In 1579, a papal bull from Pope Gregory XIII allowed Philip II of Spain to confiscate the territory and return it to the Spanish Crown.

Two years later, the 130 inhabitants purchased the territory from the king for 12,691,922 maravedíes, thereby establishing their own municipality or conceyu. Juan de Grijalva, the king's representative, appointed the inaugural town councillors and tasked them with formulating the municipality's ordinances. These responsibilities were subsequently undertaken by two magistrates, two councillors, a mayor of the Hermandad, and an agent for the nobility, as well as a judge, a councillor, and another mayor of the Hermandad for the general public. The municipality's capital was established in Villabre in 1584.

In recent years, Yernes y Tameza has been in the spotlight of the Spanish media because, due to depopulation, there is not enough population to fill the vacant posts in the municipal administration when workers take sick leaves, forcing the mayor and the local population to take in their roles.

Demography

Colors= id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9) id:darkgrey value:gray(0.7) id:sfondo value:rgb(1,1,1) id:barra value:rgb(0.6,0.7,0.9) ImageSize = width:580 height:300 PlotArea = left: 60 bottom: 30 top: 20 right: 20 DateFormat = x.y Period = from:0 till:1000 TimeAxis = orientation:vertical AlignBars = late ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:250 start:0 ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:50 start:0 BackgroundColors = canvas:sfondo BarData= bar: 1842 text: 1842 bar: 1860 text: 1860 bar: 1877 text: 1877 bar: 1887 text: 1887 bar: 1900 text: 1900 bar: 1910 text: 1910 bar: 1920 text: 1920 bar: 1930 text: 1930 bar: 1940 text: 1940 bar: 1950 text: 1950 bar: 1960 text: 1960 bar: 1970 text: 1970 bar: 1980 text: 1980 bar: 1990 text: 1990 bar: 2000 text: 2000 bar: 2010 text: 2010 bar: 2023 text: 2023 PlotData= color:barra width:20 align:center bar: 1842 from:477 till: 0 bar: 1860 from:707 till: 0 bar: 1877 from:810 till: 0 bar: 1887 from:847 till: 0 bar: 1900 from:795 till: 0 bar: 1910 from:805 till: 0 bar: 1920 from:856 till: 0 bar: 1930 from:851 till: 0 bar: 1940 from:726 till: 0 bar: 1950 from:725 till: 0 bar: 1960 from:569 till: 0 bar: 1970 from:428 till: 0 bar: 1980 from:239 till: 0 bar: 1990 from:177 till: 0 bar: 2000 from:218 till: 0 bar: 2010 from:178 till: 0 bar: 2023 from:133 till: 0 PlotData= bar: 1842 at: 477 fontsize:S text: 477 shift:(0,5) bar: 1860 at: 707 fontsize:S text: 707 shift:(0,5) bar: 1877 at: 810 fontsize:S text: 810 shift:(0,5) bar: 1887 at: 847 fontsize:S text: 847 shift:(0,5) bar: 1900 at: 795 fontsize:S text: 795 shift:(0,5) bar: 1910 at: 805 fontsize:S text: 805 shift:(0,5) bar: 1920 at: 856 fontsize:S text: 856 shift:(0,5) bar: 1930 at: 851 fontsize:S text: 851 shift:(0,5) bar: 1940 at: 726 fontsize:S text: 726 shift:(0,5) bar: 1950 at: 725 fontsize:S text: 725 shift:(0,5) bar: 1960 at: 569 fontsize:S text: 569 shift:(0,5) bar: 1970 at: 428 fontsize:S text: 428 shift:(0,5) bar: 1980 at: 239 fontsize:S text: 239 shift:(0,5) bar: 1990 at: 177 fontsize:S text: 177 shift:(0,5) bar: 2000 at: 218 fontsize:S text: 218 shift:(0,5) bar: 2010 at: 178 fontsize:S text: 178 shift:(0,5) bar: 2023 at: 133 fontsize:S text: 133 shift:(0,5)

Art

The municipality is not especially noted for its architecture. It has two chapels dedicated to Santiago and Santa Cristina de Lena, and there are parish churches of Santa María de Tameza and Santa Cruz de Yernes.

Among its vernacular architecture, the most notable is an ancient palace with a chapel that belonged to the family López del Vallado. There are also the remains of a tower near the capital.

Transport

Road

The municipality is traversed by a provincial road, several minor roads and unpaved mountain roads.

References

References

1. (2009). "Determinación de los topónimos oficiales del concejo de Yernes y Tameza". [[Government of the Principality of Asturias.
2. Armando Graña García. (1998). "Asturias a través de sus concejos". Editorial Prensa Asturiana.
3. ESTRADA GARCÍA, Rogelio. (1999). "Reseña de la carta arqueológica de Yernes y Tameza". RIA.
4. (2023-12-19). "La "súper alcaldesa" que abre, telefonea y hasta pasa la escoba de su ayuntamiento".
5. (2024-11-15). "La alcaldesa de Yernes y Tameza, operaria de limpieza ante las bajas laborales – La Voz del Trubia".
6. "Sextaferia de diez vecinos para cuidar de Yernes y Tameza". RTPA.
7. (2011). "Alterations to the municipalities in the Population Censuses since 1842". [[INE (Spain).