The Gate of the Catalan Countries ( ca, Porta dels Països Catalans), a work of the sculptor Emili Armengol, marks the Northern starting location of the

Catalan Countries The Catalan Countries ( ca, països catalans, , ) refers to those territories where the Catalan language is spoken. They include the Spanish regions of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Valencia, and parts of Aragon (''La Franja'') and Murcia ...

in Salses, Pyrénées-Orientales (this part of

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

belongs to what is also called '' Catalunya Nord'',

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

: Northern Catalonia). After more than 20 years since the beginning of the project (often stopped, and even sometimes forbidden), it was finally inaugurated on September 28, 2003, being visible from the highway. Its conception and execution was in charge of the Union for the Catalan Region. The

aerial view A bird's-eye view is an elevated view of an object or location from a very steep viewing angle, creating a perspective as if the observer were a bird in flight looking downwards. Bird's-eye views can be an aerial photograph, but also a dra ...

of the monument reminds a

sickle A sickle, bagging hook, reaping-hook or grasshook is a single-handed agricultural tool designed with variously curved blades and typically used for harvesting, or reaping, grain crops or cutting Succulent plant, succulent forage chiefly for feed ...

, in reference to

Els Segadors "Els Segadors" (, ; "The Reapers") is the official national anthem of Catalonia, Nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality and Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Spain. History The original song dates in the oral t ...

anthem.

External links

Official association page for the Gate of the Catalan Countries
2003 sculptures Buildings and structures in Pyrénées-Orientales Gate Northern Catalonia Outdoor sculptures in France Tourist attractions in Pyrénées-Orientales {{Occitanie-struct-stub