About Catalonia

History of Catalonia Catalonia, with its capital Barcelona, lies in the most north eastern corner of Spain. It has a history which Costa Brava for long periods was different from the rest of Spain, which partly explains the independent mentality of the Catalans today.

During the Muslim reign in Spain, Catalonia was protected by the French armies from the north and remained a Christian state. As a result the Catalans looked more to France than to the Iberian Peninsula. This period saw the evolution of the Catalan language, whose closest relative is said to be the "langue d'oc", the old language of southern France.

After the collapse of the Muslim caliphate in Córdoba in the 11th century, Catalonia started expanding its borders, taking the Valencia region and the Balearic Islands from the Muslims around 1230, followed by Sicily in 1282. Here began Catalonia's golden age which is marked by great expansion in the Mediterranean area. Between 1283 and 1423, Malta, Athens, Corsica, Sardinia and Naples all fell for varying periods under Catalan control, and Catalan merchants were powerful during this period in Alexandria and Constantinople.

With the marriage of Fernando and Isabel in 1497 Catalonia became part of the Castilian state. However, it was excluded from the exploitation of America which brought great wealth to the Castilian throne during the 16th century. In the next century Catalonia revolted and declared itself independent under French protection. The war of the Reapers followed (1640 - 1652), leading to the destruction of the Catalan countryside, its towns and finally to the surrender of Barcelona. 50 years later Catalonia tried again to free itself from Spanish rule, with the same outcome. After this last revolt the writing and teaching of the Catalan language were banned. In the late 18th and 19th centuries Catalonia was allowed to trade with America, boosting the shipping industry and launching the first industrial revolution in Spain, based on American cotton.

At the beginning of the Spanish Civil War in 1936, Barcelona, and thus Catalonia, remained loyal to the government, opposing general Franco. Barcelona even became the national capital of the Republicans, after the government was forced to flee Valencia. On 25th January 1939 Barcelona fell to Franco's Nationalists, and there then began a dictatorial regime in Spain which lasted until his death in 1975. During this dictatorship public use of the Catalan language was banned and town, village and street names were changed into Spanish names. In 1978 the new Spanish constitution bowed down to Catalan nationalism by creating the autonomous community of Catalonia with Barcelona as its capital. Catalonia now has wide powers over issues like education, health, tourism, agriculture, trade and industry and is currently the richest area in Spain.

Language

The Catalan language is one of the Romance, or neo-Latin, languages, like French, Italian and Spanish. It is not, as many people like to think, a dialect of Spanish, but a language in its own right and is the mother tongue of up to seven million people. It is spoken in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia and it is the official language of the princedom of Andorra.

All Catalans speak and understand Spanish and the older generation (35+) sometimes speaks French. Young people are now learning English at school and, although often hesitant, speak it quite well. See also the Section Learn Spanish in Barcelona

The climate in Catalonia

The climate in Catalonia is as diverse as its nature. Along its coastline the temperatures vary between 12°C in Winter and 28°C in Summer. However, in winter when the sun is shining, it is a is a lot more comfortable than the thermometer indicates. Sea temperatures average 20°C in June and October and a 23°C from July to September. In and around the mountains of the Pyrenees things are different. Here you find Spain's best ski resorts and temperatures depend very much on altitude and orientation. These regions get more rain during the year explaining the lush green valleys and mountains.

About 200 km. inland the climate becomes a typical land climate with cold winters and (extreme) hot summers. This however effects only a small part of Catalonia.

Nature in Catalonia

Nature in Catalonia can be stunning. When you leave the bigger tourist areas like Platja d'Aro, Lloret de Mar and Blanes, the Costa Brava (rugged coast) with its rocky coves and marvellous umbrella pines can be exceptionally beautiful. Under water nature continues, providing some of the best diving areas in Spain.

In the south of Catalonia you will find the delta of the Ebro, Spain's biggest river. Formed mainly of eroded deposits in the last 600 years, it is the most important habitat for aquatic wildfowl in Spain. A large part is now used for growing rice.

Catalonia

The Catalan Pyrenees and their foothills provide some spectacular natural scenes, ranging from beautiful views from the high peaks which are covered with snow year round, to small mountain streams running through the green forests and valleys. Here you still "find" lots of wild boar, mountain goats and birds of prey.

And probably the best thing is that you can reach everything within 2 hours from Barcelona and you won't find, with the exception of the Costa Brava, many tourists on your way.

Food in Catalonia

The Catalans love their food, and with good reason. Next to the Basque cuisine, the Catalan cuisine is considered Spain's best. With its diverse countryside which has access to the sea for its seafood, green valley's for its vegetables and fruits, and the mountains for its game, Catalonia

has all the ingredients to create delicious and sometimes out of the ordinary combinations. Just imaging a dish combining chicken and shrimps or meatballs with cuttlefish!

Like in all Mediterranean countries, the Catalans eat their biggest meal at lunch time at around one o'clock. People who work often do not have enough time to go home for lunch and thus go to a restaurant, alone or with colleagues. For this reason there are a tremendous amount of restaurants where you can eat a complete menu of good quality for about 6 euro. For some help with the local menu, take a look at our Catalan survival guide.

Although not as famous as the Rioja wine, Catalonia has its own vineyards in the Penedès region which produce top quality wines. The Penedès is also the area which produces "cava", the Catalan alternative for champane. Arts in Catalonia

Antoni Gaudí is probably the most famous Catalan today. His work as an architect is known worldwide and examples of his work can be found all over Barcelona.Sagrada Família Started in 1882 and still not finished, "La Sagrada Família" is his best known work.

Born in Barcelona in 1893, Joan Miró became famous in the mid-1930s. Deeply attracted to the Catalan countryside and coast, he divided his early years between Paris and Catalonia. From 1956 he lived on the Balearic island of Mallorca. The greatest Catalan artist of the 20th century, he has most of his work on display at a gallery in Barcelona, the "Fundació Joan Miró".

Salvador Dalí was born in Figueres and lived most of his life in Catalonia. His "Teatre-Museu Dalí" in Figueres contains a substantial portion of his work and is a huge tourist attraction. Like his work, his life was very colourful. For example, he bought his wife a small castle near Girona and agreed only to visit her when she summoned him. She rarely did!