The Casa de Esquileo de Trescasas, also known as the Esquileo del Paular, is a livestock complex in the municipality of Trescasas, in the province of Segovia. Dating back to the 16th century, the structure was completely remodeled in the 18th century. It was adapted to the characteristic sheep shearing ranch style built along the grandes cañadas reales to shear the wool of transhumant merino herds, eventually becoming the largest of its kind in the country.
Following the war economy of the Reconquista, the area became dedicated to transhumance. The site served as a place where wandering flocks were shorn. The ruins currently feature several roofless buildings and two large meadows between walls, where sheep would move from one meadow to the other while being shorn.
Currently in a state of semi-ruin and surrounded by private homes, the site faces significant risk. Due to institutional abandonment and misuse by owners, it was included in the heritage danger list on July 4, 2022. Because the entire area is cataloged as urban land, there are no administrative barriers preventing the demolition of the remains to build private housing, and parts of the land are currently for sale.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Nicolo Ciampini
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