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Catalonia

An Independent State of Mind

With over 700 kilometres of coastline, it's not surprising that Catalonia is a prime destination for tourists from all over the world.

The Catalan coast stretches from the rugged Costa Brava on the French border passing through the Costa del Maresme and the city beaches of Barcelona right down to the golden sands of the Costa Daurada in the province of Tarragona.

But the Principality offers the visitor much more than just its beaches.

Skiing holidays in the Pyrenees, a weekend break in Barcelona or rural tourism in the Ebro Delta are obvious alternatives, and the diverse geography of the region along with its history, architecture and vibrant sense of its own culture make any stay in Catalonia one to remember.

The Remains of an Empire

Five hundred years ago, the Counts of Barcelona ruled over the largest empire in the Mediterranean, but these days Catalonia is restricted to the top north-eastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula - the rump of the ancient kingdom. The Catalan language, however, is still spoken by more than 10 million people in the Principality, Andorra, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and the Rousillon region of France.

The Principality is clearly defined by the Pyrenees to the west, the Mediterranean to the east while the River Ebro forms its southern boundary separating it from neighbouring Valencia. Its northern border, however, allows easy access into France, with whom it has close historical and linguistic ties.

So, while cut off from central and southern Spain by the Meseta, Catalonia is a ‘terra de pas’, a passageway, that links the mysteries of Iberia with northern Europe, and its geographical position explains much of its turbulent history.

A Distinct Culture

Catalonia has a cultural flavour that is very much its own, and this is particularly evident both in its Gothic and Romanesque architecture and in the cadences of the Catalan language. One of the reasons for this is that both architecturally and linguistically, Catalonia received relatively little Moorish influence.

Girona and Barcelona were recaptured in 785 and 801, respectively, whilst the ‘Reconquista’ of Andalucía by Ferdinand and Isabella wasn't completed until 1492.

Catalonia Today

To this day, Catalan territory is divided along the lines established by the Franks and Catalan Counts in the 8th and 9th centuries.

The comarques, of which there are 41, are similar to the English counties. They have their own identity based on geography, agriculture and commerce, and are governed by a district council made up of elected municipal members.

However, for administrative purposes within the Spanish state, since 1833, the Principality has been split into the four provinces.

Barcelona Province is inevitably dominated by the vibrant Catalan capital but is also home to some excellent beach resorts both to the north and south and inland boasts lovely towns such as Vic and the magnificent monastery of Montserrat.

Girona Province is best known for the Costa Brava but also stretches far inland and includes a large section of the Catalan Pyrenees

Tarragona Province lays claim to the Costa Daurada and the sublime Ebro Delta, whilst Lleida Province is definitely off the beaten track for most tourists, although it contains some stunning countryside in the south and the Catalan Pyrenees in the north.

Catalan Connections

The Principality is one of the largest of Spain’s 17 Autonomous Communities covering an area of some 32,000 square kilometres, making it bigger than many other countries in the European Union including Belgium, and with a population of around 7 million, Catalans comprise about one sixth of all Spaniards.

The region is also economically prosperous, and, given its importance both in commerce and as a tourist destination, Catalunya has particularly good transport connections.

The two main motorways are the A-7 - which runs inland along the Catalan coast from France down to south-west Spain via Valencia - and the A-2 to Madrid and central Spain via Zaragoza.

The major towns have good rail connections run by RENFE and the high-speed AVE train now links Barcelona and Madrid via Lleida.

The region also has three major airports - Barcelona Airport, Girona Airport and Reus Airport which handle both international and domestic flights.

As an anecdotal guide to the region that has been my home for the last twenty years, you might like to read my book Going Native in Catalonia.

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Provinces:
Barcelona Province | Girona Province | Tarragona Province | Lleida Province

Airports
Barcelona Airport | Girona Airport | Reus Airport

Football Clubs:
FC Barcelona | RCD Espanyol | Girona FC | Gimnàstic de Tarragona

Books and Guides to Catalonia:
On Amazon.co.uk | On Amazon.Com

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