Sant Joan les Fonts
Encyclopedia
Sant Joan les Fonts is a municipality of the comarca
of Garrotxa
, located in Catalonia
. As of 2006, the population is 2,708. Until 1949 it was known as Begudà.
It is part of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
). It is located at the confluence linking Girona
to Olot
, Figueres
and Camprodón
. It is crossed by the river Fluvià
, which has been the engine behind the population's industrial development. Industry is the most developed sector in the municipality, followed by agriculture.
During the 17th century, it lived through an age of crisis, aggravated by the War of the Spanish Succession
.
There was no significant population growth until the eighteenth century, with the incorporation of immigrants from Olot and the vicinity. Later, war resulted in another decline of the population, a decline that continued throughout the 19th century. The 1854 cholera epidemic wreaked havoc.
During the 20th century, there was a social and economic revival, despite the 1936 civil war and the Franco dictatorship.
and links the core of the town with the existing church and the Castanyer neighborhood.
civil building in Catalonia. It is located along the Fluvià river. It is a fortified manor house with two parts, the defensive tower and main building. It was declared a provincial monument in 1972.
known as "la Reformada".
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 Garrotxa
Garrotxa
Garrotxa is a comarca in Catalonia, Spain. Its population in 2001 was 47,747, more than half of them in the capital city of Olot. It is roughly equivalent to the historical comarca of Besalú.-Geography:...
, located in 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...
. As of 2006, the population is 2,708. Until 1949 it was known as Begudà.
It is part of the Garrotxa Volcanic Zone Natural Park.
The municipality
It is the second most populous municipality of Garrotxa (after OlotOlot
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.- Etymology :The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses...
). It is located at the confluence linking Girona
Girona
Girona is a city in the northeast of Catalonia, Spain at the confluence of the rivers Ter, Onyar, Galligants and Güell, with an official population of 96,236 in January 2009. It is the capital of the province of the same name and of the comarca of the Gironès...
to Olot
Olot
Olot is the capital of the comarca of the Garrotxa, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.- Etymology :The etymology of Olot is not clear and there are several hypotheses...
, Figueres
Figueres
Figueres is the capital of the comarca of Alt Empordà, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, Spain.The town is the birthplace of artist Salvador Dalí, and houses the Teatre-Museu Gala Salvador Dalí, a large museum designed by Dalí himself which attracts many visitors...
and Camprodón
Camprodon
Camprodon is a small city in the comarca of Ripollès in Catalonia, Spain, located in the Pyrenees, near the French border.-History:The settlement of Camprodon was in 1118, when Ramon Berenguer III allowed the building of a market near the monastery of Sant Pere de Camprodon, which is located the...
. It is crossed by the river Fluvià
Fluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
, which has been the engine behind the population's industrial development. Industry is the most developed sector in the municipality, followed by agriculture.
History
The earliest core of the town was formed in the ninth century. Earthquakes in the years 1427 and 1428 most of the collapsed buildings. A recovery began in the area, with small population centers, that was hampered by civil war in the fifteenth century.During the 17th century, it lived through an age of crisis, aggravated by the War of the Spanish Succession
War of the Spanish Succession
The War of the Spanish Succession was fought among several European powers, including a divided Spain, over the possible unification of the Kingdoms of Spain and France under one Bourbon monarch. As France and Spain were among the most powerful states of Europe, such a unification would have...
.
There was no significant population growth until the eighteenth century, with the incorporation of immigrants from Olot and the vicinity. Later, war resulted in another decline of the population, a decline that continued throughout the 19th century. The 1854 cholera epidemic wreaked havoc.
During the 20th century, there was a social and economic revival, despite the 1936 civil war and the Franco dictatorship.
Population
- Begudà, 248 inhabitants
- La Canya, 557 inhabitants
- El Pla de Baix, 39 inhabitants
- El Pla de Dalt, 54 inhabitants
- Sant Cosme, 100 inhabitants
- Sant Joan les Fonts, 1,761 inhabitants
Monastery of Sant Joan les Fonts
An old priorate, subordinate to the abbey of St. Victor of Marseille, to Sant Pere de Besalú until 1592, and until 1835 subordinate to Sant Pere de Camprodón. Declared a national monument, the church is a Romanesque building with three naves, the central one pointed vault and the naves at the side rounded.Medieval bridge
The medieval bridge, built with volcanic stone, crosses the river FluviàFluvià
The Fluvià is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador.- See also :* List of rivers of Spain...
and links the core of the town with the existing church and the Castanyer neighborhood.
Canadell tower
A fortress located at the Serra de Vivers. From this point one can observe the entire landscape of Garrotxa, from Besalú through the valley of Olot and the valley de Bianya. The Canadell Tower is a four-story square building with "espitlleres" on all four sides and a terrace roof. It was once surrounded by ramparts.Juvinyà estate
The Juvinyà estate is known as the oldest RomanesqueRomanesque 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,...
civil building in Catalonia. It is located along the Fluvià river. It is a fortified manor house with two parts, the defensive tower and main building. It was declared a provincial monument in 1972.
Molí fondo
An area of archeological interest also known for the lava flow that formed part of the old lockLock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
known as "la Reformada".
Holidays
Various holidays are celebrated:- The festival of San Isidro, in May.
- The festival of Roser, Easter MondayEaster MondayEaster Monday is the day after Easter Sunday and is celebrated as a holiday in some largely Christian cultures, especially Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox cultures...
. - The main festival, June 24.
- The "pessebre vivent" (nativity scenes), Christmas.
- Begudà celebrates the festival of Santa Eulàlia, and the main festival in the first weekend of August