Oteros de Boedo

Geography

It is located near a little hill close to the Boedo river. It is situated north of the province of Palencia and is halfway between the subregions of La Ojeda and La Valdavia, in the region of Boedo-Ojeda. His road situation regarding other localities is 4.1 km east from Báscones de Ojeda, 8.4 km north from Revilla de Collazos, 8.3 km west from Dehesa de Romanos, 9.4 km west from La Vid de Ojeda and 11 km north from Collazos de Boedo, capital and center of the municipality. Access to the village can be done either by the regional road P-223 that goes from La Puebla de Valdavia to Alar del Rey or by dirt roads that connect with most nearby towns.

Nearby towns

The following are the locations which municipal districts border the municipality of the hamlet of Oteros de Boedo:

Demography

Despite this, the Oteros de Boedo population increases during the months of July, August and half of September. In the last fifty years the population figures of the town have suffered a huge decline due to the depopulation which took and still takes place in the Spanish countryside, being Castile and Leon the Spanish region where this fact caused more havoc.

The population of the Province of Palencia was drastically reduced due to an exodus by the generations between the 50's, 60's and 70's. The few employment opportunities, lack of services and low professional valuation granted to workers led thousands of palentinos to migrate to other parts of the Spanish territory where they would have a greater chance of success, leading the province to lose in just thirty years 20% of its workforce population. The gradual loss of population has continued to be a common and disturbing scene until now. Oteros de Boedo is not left out of it as it is in a critical situation and on the way to absolute abandonment if nothing is done to give an economic boost to the area.

Economy

Agriculture and livestock are the two main economic activities in which people of working age are based. These activities represent more than 90% of the occupation of these people together with freight with own specialized vehicles. Some other occupations, although few, also performed in the village.

History

During the Middle Ages it belonged to the largest Merindad of Monzón, Meryndat de Monçon. When the Antiguo Régimen fell the village became a constitutional municipality that in the census of 1842 counted on 20 homes and 104 neighbors, later integrated into the municipal council of Collazos de Boedo.

Tourism

The geographical location of Oteros de Boedo allows the called rural tourism. Despite the small size of the village we can find in it a rural house for travelers who want to leave the busy city life for a few days of relaxation surrounded by a totally relaxed atmosphere where you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the fields.

The town is in a prime location as it is right between various attractions of the province. To the north, about 60 kilometers, we find the Natural Park of Fuentes Carrionas and Fuente Cobre-Montaña Palentina. Then immediately close to the Cantabrian border, the first peaks indicate the start of the called Picos de Europa National Park. In these same peaks, it is the ski resort of Alto Campoo. Also in the north, about 25 km from Oteros de Boedo, near the town of Mave we can find the splendid natural area of Las Tuerces.

Oteros de Boedo is also in the region known as the North of Palencia (Norte de Palencia), which includes the administrative regions of Montaña Palentina and the northern territories of Páramos-Valles. The North of Palencia is also known by many as the Cradle of Romanesque. In the counties surrounding Oteros de Boedo we can enjoy the highest concentration of Romanesque buildings in Spain, which have been recognized as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. To this we must add the Romanesque buildings that can be found in the center of the province near the Camino de Santiago and the great presence of medieval castles through the lowlands of the province, closer to Palencia city.

Local festivities

The festivities of Oteros de Boedo, on the occasion of the days of Our Lady and Saint Roch, are on 14th, 15th and 16 August of each year. The program of the celebrations usually includes new innovations every year, but there are several activities that are always repeated as the great pancetada and chorizada occurring in the Fountain Square barbecues, the local championships of palentino bowling and nita, a rural nightclub session until the morning in the town square, the huge variety of games for all ages or the final chocolate party among other activities. During these days, along with pre and post, it is when there is the best environment in the village and it encourages the citizens to go out and enjoy the companionship.