Priorat
Encyclopedia
Priorat is a comarca (county)
in Catalonia, Spain
. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine
of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant
. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.
Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.
, and by the comarques of Baix Camp
, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà
. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou
and the mountain ranges of Serra de Llaberia
and Serra de Santa Marina.
The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.
Comarques of Catalonia
This is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
in Catalonia, 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...
. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine
Wine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant
Montsant DO
Montsant is a Spanish Denominación de Origen for wine located in the province of Tarragona and covers 12 municipalities. It was previously known as the Falset subzone of Tarragona , and was created as a separate DO in the early 2000s...
. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.
Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.
Physical geography
Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River EbroEbro
The Ebro or Ebre is one of the most important rivers in the Iberian Peninsula. It is the biggest river by discharge volume in Spain.The Ebro flows through the following cities:*Reinosa in Cantabria.*Miranda de Ebro in Castile and León....
, and by the comarques of Baix Camp
Baix Camp
Baix Camp is a comarca of Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936....
, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà
Conca de Barberà
Conca de Barberà is a comarca in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.-Municipalities:*Barberà de la Conca - pop. 434*Blancafort - pop. 412*Conesa - pop. 123*Espluga de Francolí - pop. 3,687*Forès - pop. 60*Llorac - pop. 128...
. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou
Mola de Colldejou
Mola de Colldejou is a mountain chain in Catalonia, Spain located north of the Serra de Llaberia in the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range.The highest point is 921.8 m above sea level.This mountain range is named after Colldejou village, located east of the range....
and the mountain ranges of Serra de Llaberia
Serra de Llaberia
Serra de Llaberia is a mountain chain in Catalonia, Spain located between the Prades and the Tivissa-Vandellòs Mountains.It is part of the Catalan Pre-Coastal Range...
and Serra de Santa Marina.
The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.
Municipalities
Populations (Idescat, 2010).- Bellmunt del PrioratBellmunt del PrioratBellmunt del Priorat is a municipality in the comarca of Priorat, Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain....
- pop. 350 - La Bisbal de FalsetLa Bisbal de FalsetLa Bisbal de Falset is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain.Economy is mostly based on agriculture, with production of olives and olive oil.-References:...
- pop. 237 - Cabacés - pop. 347
- CapçanesCapçanesCapçanes is a Catalan village in the province of Tarragona in north-eastern Spain. It is situated in the comarca of Priorat.- Basic data :Country: SpainAutonomous Region: CataloniaProvince: Tarragona...
- pop. 431 - Cornudella de MontsantCornudella de MontsantCornudella de Montsant is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain. It is situated in the north-west of the comarca below the Montsant range and the...
- pop. 1,028 - FalsetFalset, TarragonaFalset is the principal village of the comarca of the Priorat, in Catalonia, very famous for its wine. It has a castle and two palaces...
- pop. 2,935 - La FigueraLa FigueraLa Figuera it is a town of Priorat, in Catalonia, with an altitude of 575 meters that allow us to enjoy a privileged sight on the region from the "Balcony of the Priorat" and from the "Guixà"...
- pop. 135 - GratallopsGratallopsGratallops is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat inCatalonia, Spain.-References:* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria . Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 . ISBN 84-87135-02-1 .-External links:*...
- pop. 263 - Els GuiametsEls GuiametsEls Guiamets is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the south of the comarca. A local road links the village to the N-420 road between Falset and Móra la Nova...
- pop. 329 - Lloar - pop. 124
- MargalefMargalefMargalef is a village in Catalunya, Spain. It is situated on the edge of Montsant and is a popular ecotourism destination, especially among rock climbers. The rock type is conglomerate and it has more than 500 climbing routes of different grades, from 4 to 9b...
- pop. 115 - MarçàMarçàMarçà is a municipality in the comarca of Priorat, Tarragona Province, Catalonia, Spain.-History:In medieval times, after the area had been reconquered from the saracens, the town became part of the Barony of Entença....
- pop. 653 - El MasroigEl MasroigEl Masroig is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
- pop. 558 - Molar - pop. 297
- Morera de Montsant - pop. 160
- PoboledaPoboledaPoboleda is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
- pop. 382 - PorreraPorreraPorrera is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain.-References:...
- pop. 482 - Pradell de la TeixetaPradell de la TeixetaPradell de la Teixeta is a little village in Catalonia, Spain, located in the comarca of Priorat, in the province of Tarragona. In 2005 the population was approximately over 189.- External links :**...
- pop. 188 - La Torre de FontaubellaLa Torre de FontaubellaLa Torre de Fontaubella is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated at the southeastern end of the comarca.- Demography :-References:...
- pop. 147 - Torroja del PrioratTorroja del PrioratTorroja del Priorat is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
- pop. 165 - UlldemolinsUlldemolinsUlldemolins is a municipality in the comarca of the Priorat in Catalonia, Spain.This town is located among rocky mountains, the Serra de la Llena, the Serra de Montsant and the Prades Mountains....
- pop. 470 - La Vilella AltaLa Vilella AltaLa Vilella Alta is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
- pop. 136 - La Vilella BaixaLa Vilella BaixaLa Vilella Baixa is a village in the province of Tarragona and autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain....
- pop.213