| Catalonia shares it's northern border with the | | | | The city of Barcelona became the capital as it |
| countries of Andorra and France in the | | | | was for future kings of Spain. A well ruled |
| mountainous Pyrenees. The Mediterranean Sea | | | | Barcelona expanded trade in the Mediterranean. |
| forms it eastern border with the coast running | | | | Its cloth industry flourished and it became a |
| south west down as far as the region of Valencia. | | | | powerful centre of banking and commerce. |
| The eastern border is shared with the region of | | | | Around 1400 saw the peak in it's fortunes, decline |
| Aragon. Throughout history Catalonia has | | | | followed along with the rest of Catalonia. The |
| struggled for greater autonomy in it's relationship | | | | French occupied the city on three occasions in |
| with Spain. In attempts to gain full independent it | | | | 1640-52, 1715 and 1808-14. Catalan separatism |
| has on more than occasion revolted. Few | | | | centred on Barcelona and the city was the scene |
| Catalonians today aspire to have any real | | | | of many insurrections. It revolted against Philip IV |
| expectations of independence but the struggle for | | | | of Spain from 1640-52. It also became the |
| greater autonomy within Spain continues.History - | | | | Spanish centre of socialism and other radical |
| Greeks and Romans established trade along this | | | | political doctrines around 1900. Barcelona was the |
| part of the Mediterranean coast. In the middle | | | | capital of the region's autonomous government |
| ages Catalan art and literature flourished and the | | | | from 1932-39. During the civil war the Spanish |
| now established coastal trade saw merchants | | | | Loyalist government sat in Barcelona until it fell to |
| become very powerful rivalling those of Venice | | | | Franco's forces in early 1939. The region saw |
| and Genoa. In 1461 Catalonia rose up in protest at | | | | demonstrations against Franco's dictatorship |
| it's alliance with Aragon but the rebellion was | | | | throughout the 1950's. Today Barcelona is Spain's |
| crushed. The subsequent union of Aragon with | | | | second largest city and the claims to be cultural |
| Castile side lined Catalonia. Trade routes were | | | | centre of the country. It is the capital of the |
| moved, commercial income fell, famines and | | | | Catalonian region and more than one third of |
| plagues all contributed to it's decline. But the | | | | region's population reside there. Barcelona is also |
| Catalonian desire for independence continued. It | | | | Spain's largest port and its chief commercial |
| rose against Philip IV during the thirty year war of | | | | centre with international banking and finance |
| 1618-48 and followed that by taking the side of | | | | houses. It is a major industrial centre and |
| Archduke Charles in the War of the Spanish | | | | production includes aviation, chemicals, electrical |
| Succession against Philip V. It was a centre for | | | | equipment, foundries, locomotives, machinery, |
| socialist influence at the turn of the 19th Century. | | | | textiles and vehicles. The city itself is modern, |
| 1931 saw the Catalans establish a separate | | | | with wide avenues, bustling traffic and striking |
| government which went on to win autonomy | | | | new architecture. By contrast the well preserved |
| from the Spanish Cortes in 1932. Two years later | | | | old city, Roman walls can still be seen, is filled with |
| a revolution for complete independence failed, but | | | | narrow, winding streets and ancient structures, |
| in another 2 years autonomy was restored. In | | | | including a cathedral, many churches, the city hall |
| the Spanish civil war of 1936-39, Catalonia once | | | | and the Lonja or exchange. Barcelona is the site |
| again picked the wrong side and following Franco's | | | | of a reputed opera house, the Contemporary Art |
| victory over the republicans the region suffered | | | | Museum, the Fine Arts Museum of Catalonia and |
| badly and the cherished Catalan language was | | | | the Picasso Museum. In 1992 it hosted the |
| banned in public life. In 1978 it was restored and is | | | | summer Olympics. The remainder of the province |
| now an official language of the region along with | | | | of Barcelona is in the main hilly or mountainous. |
| Castilian or Spanish. It elected its first parliament | | | | But it also home to some highly fertile plains |
| as an autonomous region in 1980. By the | | | | where cereals grapes and olives are grown. The |
| mid-1990s Catalan nationalists had become a | | | | province also produces one third of Spain's wine. |
| force in both the region's and the nation's | | | | Much of the area's power is generated by |
| politics.Catalonia comprises four provinces, Girona, | | | | hydroelectric plants built on the Ebro, Cinca and |
| Barcelona, Tarragona and Lleida, all are named | | | | Segre rivers. The coastline, stretching nearly 400 |
| after their capitals.Girona or Gerona in the north | | | | kilometres has many good harbours and marinas, |
| sits on the Onyar River. Dating from pre-Roman | | | | excellent fisheries and an buoyant tourist trade. |
| times, the old town has preserved its medieval | | | | West of Barcelona you will find the vineyards of |
| aspect. Girona was ruled by the Moors from 714 | | | | the Penedes area. Also the mountain of |
| to 797. During the Peninsular War of 1808-09 the | | | | Montserrat, on a clear day the peak at 1236m |
| town resisted the Napoleon's French forces. | | | | above sea level offers views of the Pyrenees to |
| Industries today include chemical production, | | | | the north and to Mallorca in the Balearic Islands to |
| machinery, paper making and textiles. Outside the | | | | the south east.Tarragona sits on the mouth of |
| city and on the coat the beaches and coves | | | | the river Francola on the Mediterranean. It was |
| around Begur and Palafrugell and particularly | | | | formally known as Tarraco and in 218BC was |
| attractive. Or take in a sunrise at the Cap de | | | | captured by Roman forces. They built up is |
| Crues, Spain's most easterly point. Just to the | | | | fortifications against attack by the Carthaginians. |
| south is the enchanting whitewashed village of | | | | The ruins of Roman walls and an aquaduct remain |
| Cadaques built around a rocky bay. The artist | | | | still. It fell to both the Visigoths and the Moors in |
| Salvador Dali spent the holidays of his youth there | | | | the 5th and 8th centuries respectively. The |
| and later lived in the nearby village of Port Lligat. | | | | Christians recaptured it in the 12th century but |
| The barren shorelines, odd formations of rocks | | | | when it's trade was captured by either regions |
| and desolate moonscapes so typical of his | | | | Barcelona or Valencia it fell into decline. In 1903 |
| paintings can be seen in abundance throughout the | | | | Carthusian monks settled in the city having been |
| locality. The Teatre-Musea Dali is located in the | | | | expelled from La Grande Chartreuse in France. |
| town of Figueres and contains a great deal of the | | | | Their famous liqueur is produced here to this day. |
| artist's works. The Pyrenees, in the north of the | | | | Today it is important as both a commercial centre |
| province, offer many opportunities for walking | | | | and port. Industries include flour mills, an oil |
| and hiking, the Parc Nacional d'Aiguestortes i | | | | refinery and wine production and export. Some of |
| Estany de Sant Maurici being one of the most | | | | the countries finest wines are made nearby in the |
| attractive areas. There are several ski stations | | | | Priorat region.Lleida lies on the river Segre. |
| operating throughout the winter months.There is | | | | Formally known as Llerda, Julius Ceasar defeated |
| evidence of some settlement in the area going | | | | the generals of Pompey here in 49 BC. The |
| back to the 15th century BC but Barcelona is | | | | Moorish invasion from the south saw Lleida fall in |
| reputed to take it's name from the powerful | | | | 714. It was liberated by Christian forces in 1149. |
| Carthaginian family of Barca who founded the | | | | By tradition a strategic, fortified city, Lleida |
| basis for the city as we know it today. Under the | | | | became a key defence point for Barcelona in the |
| Romans and Visigoths the city flourished. In the | | | | Spanish civil war. It eventually fell to Franco's |
| 8th century it fell to the Moors and in 801 it was | | | | forces in the April of 1938 having withheld for nine |
| taken by Charlemagne, who included it in the | | | | long months. A castle, whose ramparts enclose a |
| Spanish March. The March became independent | | | | Romanesque cathedral, dominates the old section |
| under the leadership of the powerful counts of | | | | of the city. Lleida is the centre of a fertile farm |
| Barcelona in the 9th and 10th centuries, They | | | | area and agriculture predominates. There is little in |
| won lands from the Moors to the south and | | | | the way of a manufacturing industry.Ken Jones |
| acquired all of Catalonia. In 1137, following the | | | | runs a Spanish Guide. |
| marriage of Count Raymond Berengar IV to the | | | | More information about Catalonia can be found |
| heiress of Aragon the two regions became united. | | | | here. |