Hervas Jewish Quater

About

The town of Hervas started as a humble chapel built by Templar monks in the 12th century. Following growing anti-Semitism in Castile, Jews starting arriving in Hervás in the 15th century, and only stayed in the town for about 100 years when the Catholic monarchs expelled all Jews from their kingdom. Today Hervás’ Jewish quarter is one of the best preserved in Spain and has been a Historic-Artistic Ensemble by the Spanish Ministry of Culture since 1969. The narrow cobbled streets are lined with homes that look like they haven’t been touched in centuries. Many are built in the traditional style of using masonry for the ground floor and chestnut adobe on the first floor, all sheltered by vertical roof tiles. Along with the traditional architecture, some traditional Jewish professions have returned to the city, including a real Jewish bakery owned by a descendant of Sephardic Jews.