Castelltallat range
Encyclopedia
The Castelltallat range (catalan language
: Serra de Castelltallat) is located in central Catalonia
(Spain
) between the counties
of Bages
and Solsonès
, occupying an area of about 65 square kilometers. It is one of the isolated hills of the Catalan Central Depression
and it is located at its southwestern end.
and marl
mountains oriented WSW-ENE. The highest point of the range is the 936 m high "Tossal". The northern slopes are steep and forested, while the southern slopes are used for agriculture owing to their lesser inclination.
Most of the mountain belongs to the municipality of Sant Mateu de Bages
while the western part lies within the municipalities of Pinós
and La Molsosa
. The village of Castelltallat was a municipality until 1840 when it became part of San Mateu de Bages municipal term. The parish church of Sant Miquel has been documented since 1031 and is located at an altitude of 887 m. The Church contains samples of Romanesque
, Renaissance
, Baroque
and neoclassical
architectural styles.
It was built at the feet of the now ruined 10th or 11th century Castelltallat castle which gave its name to the mountain range, for "Castell talaiat" comes from the words "Castell", castle, and "Talaia", watchtower
.
.
.jpg)
Before 1994 and 1998 wildfires pines dominated landscape: Pinus nigra, Pinus halepensis Pinus sylvestris and a lesser extent Pinus pinea. After fires Quercus humilis and Quercus ilex sprouts became the most visible trees. Where there is no forest predominate meadow Aphyllantion or Brachypodium
and shrubs specially Dorycnum pentaphyllum and Rosemary
. It is remarkable the presence of he gypsophylous plant named ruac (Ononis tridentata) in some small gypsum patchs and the bastard balm (Melittis melissophyllum
). Also interesting are the examples of Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis lutea
), Primulas (Primula acaulis) and the broom (Genista cinerea).
The bird population seems to have been little affected by wildfires. Among the birds Eurasian Eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo) is the greatest between the nesting birds. Since a few years it can see the Griffin Vulture (Gyps fulvus) fly, coming from the neighboring county of upper Solsonès
. The number of partridges do not seem to have changed after wildfires.
Between feral mammals the number of wild boars and fox
es is increasing. The population of rabbit
s in contrast, is highly variable.
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
: Serra de Castelltallat) is located in central Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
(Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) between the counties
Comarca
A comarca is a traditional region or local administrative division found in parts of Spain, Portugal, Panama, Nicaragua, and Brazil. The term is derived from the term marca, meaning a "march, mark", plus the prefix co- meaning "together, jointly".The comarca is known in Aragonese as redolada and...
of Bages
Bages
Bages is a comarca in the center of Catalonia, Spain. It includes two subcomarques, el Moianès and el Lluçanès.Industries include the mining of potash at Súria and Sallent, and the manufacture of textiles along the rivers Llobregat and Cardener...
and Solsonès
Solsonès
Solsonès is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of historic county of Urgell. Over 60% of its people live in the capital, Solsona.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.* Castellar de la Ribera - pop. 153* Clariana de Cardener - pop. 151...
, occupying an area of about 65 square kilometers. It is one of the isolated hills of the Catalan Central Depression
Catalan Central Depression
The Catalan Central Depression is a natural depression between the Pre-Pyrenees and the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range. It widens towards the west, linking with the Ebro Depression, , of which it could be considered an eastern extension...
and it is located at its southwestern end.
Description
Geologically the Castelltallat range is made up of limestoneLimestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
and marl
Marl
Marl or marlstone is a calcium carbonate or lime-rich mud or mudstone which contains variable amounts of clays and aragonite. Marl was originally an old term loosely applied to a variety of materials, most of which occur as loose, earthy deposits consisting chiefly of an intimate mixture of clay...
mountains oriented WSW-ENE. The highest point of the range is the 936 m high "Tossal". The northern slopes are steep and forested, while the southern slopes are used for agriculture owing to their lesser inclination.
Most of the mountain belongs to the municipality of Sant Mateu de Bages
Sant Mateu de Bages
Sant Mateu de Bages is a village in the province of Barcelona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
while the western part lies within the municipalities of Pinós
Pinós
Pinós is a village in the province of Lleida and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
and La Molsosa
La Molsosa
La Molsosa is a municipality in the comarca of the Solsonès in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the south of the comarca in the Castelltallat range...
. The village of Castelltallat was a municipality until 1840 when it became part of San Mateu de Bages municipal term. The parish church of Sant Miquel has been documented since 1031 and is located at an altitude of 887 m. The Church contains samples of Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
, Renaissance
Renaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
, Baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
and neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
architectural styles.
It was built at the feet of the now ruined 10th or 11th century Castelltallat castle which gave its name to the mountain range, for "Castell talaiat" comes from the words "Castell", castle, and "Talaia", watchtower
Watchtower
A watchtower is a type of fortification used in many parts of the world. It differs from a regular tower in that its primary use is military, and from a turret in that it is usually a freestanding structure. Its main purpose is to provide a high, safe place from which a sentinel or guard may...
.
Climate
Submediterranean climate with a mean annual temperature of 12°C, January is the coldest month (3'5°C) and July and August the warmest (21'5°C) and annual precipitation of about 600 liters with little or no snow. Most of the range is part of an "Areas of Natural Interest Plan" (PEIN) of the government of CataloniaGovernment of Catalonia
The Government of Catalonia is the executive branch of the Generalitat de Catalunya. It is responsible for the political action, reglamentation and administration of the Generalitat....
.
Fauna and flora
Brachypodium
Brachypodium is a genus of about 26 annual or perennial bunch grasses from the Northern Hemisphere. Flimsy upright stems form tussocks. Flowers appear in compact spike-like racemes with 5-25 flowers on each short-stalked spikelet in summer...
and shrubs specially Dorycnum pentaphyllum and Rosemary
Rosemary
Rosemary, , is a woody, perennial herb with fragrant, evergreen, needle-like leaves and white, pink, purple or blue flowers, native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the mint family Lamiaceae, which includes many other herbs, and is one of two species in the genus Rosmarinus...
. It is remarkable the presence of he gypsophylous plant named ruac (Ononis tridentata) in some small gypsum patchs and the bastard balm (Melittis melissophyllum
Melittis melissophyllum
Melittis melissophyllum, common name: the Bastard Balm, is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the genus Melittis of the Lamiaceae family. The name melittis of the genus derives from a Greek words Melissa or Melitta, meaning "honey bee" and refers to the properties of flowers of attracting...
). Also interesting are the examples of Yellow Foxglove (Digitalis lutea
Digitalis lutea
Digitalis lutea, a Yellow Foxglove, is a short-lived perennial plant.The flowers are tubular, yellow, with brown dots on the inside of the corolla. Flowers are borne beginning in late spring, then sporadically throughout the summer and fall....
), Primulas (Primula acaulis) and the broom (Genista cinerea).
The bird population seems to have been little affected by wildfires. Among the birds Eurasian Eagle-owl ( Bubo bubo) is the greatest between the nesting birds. Since a few years it can see the Griffin Vulture (Gyps fulvus) fly, coming from the neighboring county of upper Solsonès
Solsonès
Solsonès is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of historic county of Urgell. Over 60% of its people live in the capital, Solsona.- Municipalities :Populations are for 2001.* Castellar de la Ribera - pop. 153* Clariana de Cardener - pop. 151...
. The number of partridges do not seem to have changed after wildfires.
Between feral mammals the number of wild boars and fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
es is increasing. The population of rabbit
Rabbit
Rabbits are small mammals in the family Leporidae of the order Lagomorpha, found in several parts of the world...
s in contrast, is highly variable.
The astronomical observatory
The astronomical observatory was built close to the ruins of the ancient castle as part of the revitalization of the area after numerous forest fires. Opened in 2004, the dome of the observatory has a diameter of 5 meters and the telescope 400 mm.External links
- http://www.observatoricastelltallat.com/ Castelltallat observatory and
- http://www.serradecastelltallat.com/interes.htm Turistic information with pictures
- Statistical information - Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya