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