The history and geography of the deserted village of Minguela

Minguela, a village located in the south of the Duero Valley in the southwest of the Campo de Peñafiel, and to the northeast of the old Villa and Tierra of Cuéllar, dates back to the 11th century during the repopulation of the Duero valley during the Reconquista. Initially part of Segovia province, Minguela later belonged to Valladolid. Belonging to the Villa and Tierra of Cuéllar, within the Sexmo of Valcorba, the majority of what was Minguela now lies in the municipality of Bahabón, while the rest is in Campaspero.

The area where the settlement stood is characterized by numerous springs and streams, including the one that forms the Arroyo Valcorba. It is likely that Minguela was abandoned definitively in 1638, although the last church records are missing, and it is difficult to pinpoint the exact date. However, it is certain that by 1640, Minguela was deserted.

Minguela was situated in a privileged location on the banks of the birth of the Valcorba. Due to its location in a mandatory pass on the Cuéllar-Peñafiel route, it had a population higher than surrounding villages like Campaspero or Pociague. Historically, it was the subject of jurisdictional disputes between the jurisdictions of Cuéllar and Peñafiel, which led to conflicts and retaliatory actions between the two towns.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons