El Franco

El Franco
—  Municipality  —
Coat of arms
El Franco Location in Spain
Coordinates: 43°33′N 6°52′W
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Asturias
Province	Asturias
Comarca	Eo-Navia
Judicial district	Castropol
Capital	La Caridad
Government
• Alcalde	Cecilia Pérez Sánchez (PSOE)
Area
• Total	78.04 km2 (30.13 sq mi)
Highest elevation	899 m (2,949 ft)
Population
• Total	4,075
• Density	52.217/km2 (135.241/sq mi)
Demonym	franquino/a
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code	33746 and del 33756 to 33759
Official language(s)
Website	Official website

El Franco is a municipality in the Autonomous Community of the Principality of Asturias. It is bordered on the north by the Cantabrian Sea, and to the west by Tapia de Casariego, to the south by Castropol and Boal, and to the east by Coaña.
El Franco ist part of the Comarca Eo Navia.
The River Rio Porcia and Rio Mazo pass the municipality.

History

Historical populations Year Pop. ±% 1991 4,268 — 1996 4,193 −1.8% 2001 4,123 −1.7% 2004 4,112 −0.3% 2006 4,065 −1.1% 2007 4,015 −1.2%

Artifacts from Neolithic Age book an early settlement of the region. Still today rests of Hill forts, in Arancedo as well as in the neighbouring Coaña and Mohias are visible. In the 18th century the old gold mines which are in use until today were found near the embankment castle of Arancedo. During the Middle Ages El Franco was split in the dioceses by Lugo and Oviedo, the administrative capital was in this time, Castropol. In 1852 the administrative seat was laid to El Franco finally in the Parroquia La Caridad where it is still today

Economy

At the top of the employees lies the Livestock and Fishery. The milk industry is provided here still with the highest growth, after in the fishing the preventive measures of the EU started to reach. The tourism industry and administrative companies form the second largest position of the employers and the tourism shows the biggest growth of the region. Smaller, commercial companies and production companies are found predominantly in the small industrial parks of the adjoining municipality.

Politics

	PSOE	PP	IU-BA	Others	Total
2003	6	5	0	0	11
2007	6	4	1	0	11

Parishes

• Arancedo
• La Braña
• La Caridad
• Lebredo
• Miudes
• Prendones
• Valdepares
• Villalmarzo

Points of interest

• La iglesia (Church) de Santa María, built on romanic Basementen finished in 18th century
• El palacio de Miudes from 16th century
• El palacio de Fonfría from 16th century
• El palacio de Jardón
• La torre (Tower) Valdepares

Fiestas and Ferias

• 24. June - San Juan de Prendones in Valdepares.
• 16. July, el Carmen - in Miudes.
• 2. August, Santo Ángel in Viavélez
• from 8. September on: el día de los Remedios

External links

• Federación Asturiana de Concejos (Spanish)
• Guía del Occidente. El Franco (Spanish)