Los Peregrinos de les Useres -The pilgrims of Les Useres
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The last Friday of April the town of Les Useres remembers an ancient tradition that plunges us fully into the Middle Ages. There are thirteen men, the guide and twelve pilgrims (representing Jesus Christ and the twelve Apostles), accompanied by three singers, the priest, the representative of the City Council, the “clavarios”, the depository, the promises and the group of pack animals, who will renew the vow of the whole village to march in penitential pilgrimage to the sanctuary of San Juan de Peñagolosa.
The path is carried out all day on Friday and the sanctuary is entered at nightfall. On Friday night the pilgrims keep vigil in a separate room from the rest. The Saturday, after hearing mass in Sant Joan de Penyagolosa, they return to the village with the blessed bread that is distributed among the inhabitants of Les Useres. They enter the village at nightfall, where they are greeted in silence by locals and tourists alike.
Not much is known about its origins: plagues, times of drought, wars, etc., any reason was enough to manifest faith in God, the Virgin and the Saints. According to the chant of the O Vere Deus they ask for health, peace and rain.
The Pilgrims are volunteers chosen following the turn of the streets that runs through the five neighborhoods in which the town is divided. The “clavarios” and women graze the loaves of San Juan in the different ovens of the village, the cooks and the custodian prepare the food, the vestas, candles, utensils and everything necessary for the two days.The project, whose origin was religious, has become a tourist resource that attracts thousands of visitors. The challenge for the council has been to transform an event of undoubted cultural and historical value (a tradition that dates back to the 14th century) into a tourist product that generates wealth for local businesses.
The objective is to involve private businesses from different towns to take advantage of the flow of visitors generated by the pilgrimage. A total of 4 towns are affected by visitors: Les Useres, Atzeneta del Maestrat, Xodos and Vistabella del Maestrat. Local restaurants and bars, as well as tourist accommodation, are affected by a sharp increase in demand.
Les Useres is the main actor of the event. There is a commission that is in charge of choosing the pilgrims and organizing the logistics. The city council of Les Useres notifies the rest of the municipalities that the pilgrimage will pass through their municipal terms. The protagonists, the 13 pilgrims and their main companions, must be from Les Useres.
Implementing Els Peregrins de les Useres require resources such as time, infrastructure, and personnel, especially the promoters. Cultural rural tourism is a development tool for many rural and isolated areas to supplement traditional industries often in decline. The town council of Les Useres provided a small budget for the project, and organizes civil protection and insurance expenses
The main benefit for Les Useres and the other 3 municipalities affected by the pilgrimage is the large volume of visitors generated during the two days. This flow has a very positive impact on the business of bars, restaurants, bakeries, gas stations, shops and accommodation in the area.
The pilgrimage has been declared a Natural Monument and has a brigade of workers who prepare the path throughout the year. Therefore, some jobs have been generated in localities at risk of depopulationThe problems detected are of three types:
a) historical-cultural since some residents do not agree with the massification of a religious and ancestral pilgrimage,
b) the environmental impact on the path and the surroundings due to the passage of thousands of people, and
c) the high number of vehicles that travel along the roads of the towns with their companions, which can cause accidents and have an environmental impact.https://www.lesuseres.es/visitantes/los-peregrinos-de-useras
The transfer of the project is possible to existing cultural-historical events throughout Europe. This will depend on the singular value of the event, whose characteristics must be truly differential. If the resource has the potential to become a tourism product, a significant communication effort must be made. It is important to design the product in such a way that the essence of the pilgrimage can be kept intact so that it does not generate rejection among the residents. Finally, local businesses must be prepared to face the explosive demand that occurs during a certain date.
Statement/opinion from a company member involved in the best practice idea; either within your text or in a separate quote-textbox.
https://www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/comarcas/2022/02/24/les-useres-recupera-els-pelegrins-covid-castellon-63100729.html
https://elpais.com/ccaa/2016/04/29/valencia/1461944182_544845.html
https://www.elmundo.es/comunidad-valenciana/castellon/2021/03/23/6058eda1fdddff40988b4796.html
https://agroambient.gva.es/es/web/espacios-naturales-protegidos/el-cami-dels-pelegrins-de-les-useres-5668
https://caminsdepenyagolosa.dipcas.es/es/les-useres.html
https://www.avl.gva.es/documents/31987/98364/COMICS_14.pdf
https://www.uv.es/charco/documentos/useres.htm
https://repositorio.uam.es/bitstream/handle/10486/8048/44065_10.pdf?sequence=1
https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/de-useras-a-sant-joan-de-penyagolosa-ruta-del-peregrins-de-les-useres-61198317“The goal is for there to be perfect coordination between all parties so that Els Pelegrins de les Useres develops, within the limitations that the works may impose, in complete safety and with the greatest possible brilliance,” says mayor Martínez, who announces that The Bishop’s office has been asked for information “about the facilities that can be used” and it has also been agreed to draw up a list of the services that will have to be guaranteed on those days, “as is the case with hygienic services and, of course, running water.”
Videos:
https://www.apuntmedia.es/noticies/societat/torna-pelegrinatge-useres-anys-despres_1_1509942.html
https://www.elperiodic.com/val/pcastellon/video/pelegrins-useres-2022_3506 -
Muy interesante
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