Situation 

40° 24' 13" N  -  5° 44' 55" W

 Valdesangil, belongs to Béjar's parish, only 3 Km away, at the south part of the Salamanca province, in the mountainous and green area ay the Sierra de Béjar - Candelario, the natural 'border' between Castilla-León and Extremadura, a natural oasis in the middle of the Sistema Central, composed by granite outcrops.

         Very near we find:   

-  The ski resort La Covatilla, the only one in the Sierra de Béjar - Candelario. The picturesque Candelario village. Béjar with its five churches, its  gastronomy, history and renaissance park.

- The ancient 'Silver way', with some sections preserved of the riginal roman road way. Guijuelo, the cradle of the iberian ham in Castilla y León.

- The Sierra de Francia, high sierra full of typical and preserved ancient villages (La Alberca, Mogarraz, Miranda del Castañar, etc.) and the Valle de Las Batuecas, a very picturesque valley with its famous monastery and prehistoric paintings. 

- A whole environment full of chestnuts and oaks forests, trails, prey, plants and living nature.

  Valdesangil is about 1040 m above sea level, overlooking the South and located in a small valley at the end of which there is a circus of granite elevations, where is usual to practice climbing. From the high plains of the adjacent valley, one can see many surrounding villages, this valley collects water in a stream called Valdesangil, whose name it shares with the people.

Geology:

The Valdesangil surroundings are characterized by large granite outcrops that form ridges, among which we cite as most important: "Cancho Bermejo", bare mass of granite with no vegetation, gently abraded with vertical walls 25 to 30 m, usually used by Climbing schools. "Piquitos", 1250 m, with rocks of capricious formations. "Cabeza gorda", 1500 m, and the promontory of "Valdeama". On a clear day, with binoculars, from "Cabeza gorda" is possible to see Salamanca (about 65 km away).

Flora:

  Very diverse and changing each season. Abundance of grasses, which give us every year for a spectacular spring flowering. Wild violets are very frequent, petunias, pansies ('pensamientos' in spanish), lilacs and daisies.

  Trees: oak, chestnut, ash, willow, gall oaks, alder, rowan, maple, holly, poplar, laurel, linden trees, some holm oaks, etc. allow us to enjoy the changing color of each season.

  Among the fruits are abundant mulberries, apples, pears, cherries, figs, quinces and some pomegranates. Shrubs as the most abundant include: brooms, 'piornos', thorns 'Majuelos', 'durillos', blackberries, etc..

  Among the herbs, many thyme, lavender, rosemary, oregano, pennyroyal, peppermint, chamomile, lemon, ... Is varied the presence of mushrooms: wild mushrooms, parasols, trails, thistle mushrooms, boletus, 'colmenillas', amanitas, lactarious, lepisto, rúsulas etc.

   Chestnut, yew, oak, cedar, pine, walnut, cypress, trees acclimated to these latitudes, which provide fruit and supporting the built traditions and festivals.

  In this region there are examples worthy of mention as the cedar of Lebanon on the left, which is estimated to be more than 600 years old, or the stunning photography of the mulberry tree on the right.

  There are 'douglas' fir trees, holly, some sample of redwood and other more or less exotic trees, in parks or private gardens.

Fauna:

  It is very important the presence of several protected birds of prey like the red kite, the falcon, the eagle, the griffon vulture, the hawk, the autillo, the kestrel, etc. and whose flight and involutions can be observed almost all year long at this area and distinguished by its shape in flight.

  Among the small birds we can mention the abundant blackbird, the lark, the migratory orioles, the nightingale, the real dick (or pica pines), the magpie, the hoopoe, and so on.

  The stork makes act of presence each year, increasingly extending their stay or stay permanently if they are food secure. Probably due to the relative proximity of the natural park of Monfragüe, there are occasionally some herons.

  Regardless of what is expected in this region, as the different breeds of cattle, the iberian pig, etc. there are also wild boar, partridge, wood pigeon and some the most variety, typical of the hunting environment that is enjoyed here.

  Often you can see 'jinetas', badgers, hedgehogs, weasels, moles, some mountain cats and some hispanic goats.

  There are reptiles as the salamander, lizard and the gecko. As a curiosity, we also can see (seldom) in these fields the stag beetle, not so common in these latitudes.

Historia:

  As in all ancient towns of Castilla y Leon, its history goes back to Celtic settlements or Celtiberians, then perhaps Vettones, who continue to use throughout the years as a village of stockmen and farmers. In our case, there is the undeniable influence on the roman bridges and roadways, because of its proximity to North-South road, later called the 'Silver way', which apparently takes its name from the name given by the Arabs. Note that in this area there are Celtic or Celtiberians archaeological sites (anthropomorphic tombs), roman, and innumerable remains of the Arabic culture, as the walls surrounding Béjar.

 With the Christian presence, the appearance of temples, built on places of much earlier cult, made that the people around these suits, which are recorded in its history. In our case, Valdesangil was a village outside of Bejar, a suburb comprised of ranchers, beekeepers, etc.

 The population is listed as a group of houses around a primitive chapel of Ntra Sra de Los Remedios, households of farmers, with farmers and beekeepers meadows and sheepfolds, known as 'Las Casas de Val de San Gil' in the ordinances of Béjar for mounts conservation and beehives sites. The name "valley" of San Gil, undoubtedly due to its location, protected by a circus of granite heights, in the above mentioned small valley. At the Municipal Archives of Béjar the oldest entry that appears is the one 'contrat' written in the year 1525 , in which this population is named as Valdesangil. Another post from the sale of a pasture, dated 1709, in which also appears Valdesangil as the name of this village.

At the parish records shows that, in 1715, is signed in the Villa de Bejar the written requirement to build a new temple, in place of the existing church, and the priest of the Cathedral of Plasencia D. Francisco Hernández Nieto covered 10,000 'reales', the amount of the new parish church, built with granite blocks, highlighting the bell tower and inside the elevated choir and the altar pieces, one of which appears similar to a shield for the Gil surname, which is supposed to own this stock. The altarpiece of the high altar is a remarkable piece, belonging to the Churriguera workshop. The church continues in use and can be visited.

Already in 1751 we see the importance of the farmers in this town when the cattle are brought to this region, mainly for sheep.

As a curiosity, the pulpit of the parish church dates from the year of the French Revolution: 1789, figure that can be seen in the relief of the bottom forging.

In 1812 the City Hall of Béjar recognizes Valdesangil own terms, while continuing as part of that town parish.

  At the way in to the village (on the outskirts, for inhabitants) had been for three centuries a Calvary and a granite cross that, in 1901, was renewed by the Neoclassical sculptor Juan (Roman) Manuel Hernandez, brother of the also famous sculptor Mateo Hernandez.

The central cross is 4.75 m tall, including the crucifix with the sculpture of Christ. Side crosses are 1.80 m and 1.64 m high.

Legends

The french general treasure.-

  Valdesangil inhabitants tell people that, during the Napoleonic invasion, a french general who retired to France, unable to carry the bulky booty secured, searched the area around for a cave in which hid their treasure. Because there are so many caves and hollows in the environment of this village, he was forced to mark it, report them in some way, so he could find it when he will return years later, after the invasion and war, so he left his sword stuck in the floor of the entrance of the cave.

  Later on, a shepherd, outside his meaning, faced with the sword of the french general, and took it home as a curiosity. He didn't know that there was a treasure after the sword.

  Years later, the french general returned and, desperate, spent a long time without success trying to locate the cave with its treasure, leaving the matter and returned to his country.

  According to the tellers, the legend is absolutely certain and they insist that the treasure is still somewhere in on of the caves of the village, awaiting for someone to find it.

 Legends abound everywhere that relate treasures hidden in caves or underground, whose discovery or recovery will be performed by means of a sword and in this region, so imbued with comings and goings of Christians and Muslims, could not be less. Despite this, the Valdesangil inhabitants believe the story as true. 

 Thanks:

   To all the inhabitants of Valdesangil, that have provided support and information useful for gathering the data necessary on the making of this page. People are friendly, honest and communicative, in addition of having a deep knowledge of their environment.

  We have to highlight the most authoritative information on specific topics provided by Don Agustin, the pastor of Valdesangil, cultured, curious and studious person, as well as concerned about the cultural health of the people of this village.

  Also mention, among the publications on flora, fauna, history and description of the region's environment, which have been used in the making of this page, J.A. Oria de Rueda y Justino Díez ("Guía de árboles y arbustos de Castilla y León"), Raúl Bueno Hernández ("Las aves de la sierra de Béjar"), José Luis Gallego ("Descubrir los bosques"), Jaromir Pokorny ("Árboles de Europa"), etc. that we recommend from here to those interested on deeping in these matters.