Graus (, ) is a village in the
Spanish province of
Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca of Hoya de Huesca. In 2009 it had a population of 52,059, almo ...
, located in the
Pyrenees
The Pyrenees (; es, Pirineos ; french: Pyrénées ; ca, Pirineu ; eu, Pirinioak ; oc, Pirenèus ; an, Pirineus) is a mountain range straddling the border of France and Spain. It extends nearly from its union with the Cantabrian Mountains to C ...
at the confluence of rivers Esera and Isabena. It is the administrative capital of the region. It is one of the areas of
Aragon
Aragon ( , ; Spanish and an, Aragón ; ca, Aragó ) is an autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces (from north to sou ...
in which is still preserved the
Aragonese language
Aragonese ( ; in Aragonese) is a Romance language spoken in several dialects by about 12,000 people as of 2011, in the Pyrenees valleys of Aragon, Spain, primarily in the comarcas of Somontano de Barbastro, Jacetania, Alto Gállego, Sobrarbe, ...
.
The
Battle of Graus
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and for ...
took place here, and
Spanish
Spanish might refer to:
* Items from or related to Spain:
**Spaniards are a nation and ethnic group indigenous to Spain
**Spanish language, spoken in Spain and many Latin American countries
**Spanish cuisine
Other places
* Spanish, Ontario, Can ...
philosopher
A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...
Baltasar Gracián y Morales was exiled here. During the
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War ( es, Guerra Civil Española)) or The Revolution ( es, La Revolución, link=no) among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War ( es, Cuarta Guerra Carlista, link=no) among Carlists, and The Rebellion ( es, La Rebelión, link ...
, the village of Graus served as a fairly important local commercial center with 2,600 inhabitants around 1936. It was a libertarian stronghold and a centre of collectivization at that time.
Geography
The municipality of Graus today includes the towns of:
Abenozas
Abenozas is a locality located in the municipality of Graus, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 1.
Geography
Abenozas is located 108km east-northeast of Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-easte ...
,
Aguilar,
Aguinalíu
Aguinalíu or Aguinaliu is a locality located in the municipality of Graus, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 19.
Geography
Aguinalíu is located 86km east of Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in nort ...
,
Bellestar,
Benavente de Aragón
Benavente de Aragón is a locality located in the municipality of Graus, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 27.
Geography
Benavente de Aragón is located 94km east of Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city ...
, Castarlenas,
Centenera,
Eixep,
Güel
Güel is an old hamlet in the Ribagorça county in Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the autonomous community of Aragon. It is also the capital of the Spanish province of the same name and of the comarca ...
,
Chuseu
Chuseu or Juseu is a locality located in the municipality of Graus, in Province of Huesca, Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 19.
Geography
Chuseu is located 89km east of Huesca.
References
Populated place ...
,
Panillo
Panillo is a locality located in the municipality of Graus, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 74.
Geography
Panillo is located 96km east-northeast of Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern ...
,
La Puebla de Fantova,
La Puebla del Mon,
Pueyo de Marguillén,
El Soler,
Torre de Ésera,
Torre de Obato,
Torrelabad
Torrelabad is a hamlet located in the municipality of Graus, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 19.
Geography
Torrelabad is located 96km east of Huesca
Huesca (; an, Uesca) is a city in north-eastern Spain ...
,
Torres del Obispo and
Las Ventas de Santa Lucía.
There are also uninhabited villages: Bafaluy, Cancer, Erdao, Fantova, Grustán, Pano and Torruella de Aragón.
History
The first population in Graus is dated from the
Paleolithic
The Paleolithic or Palaeolithic (), also called the Old Stone Age (from Greek: παλαιός ''palaios'', "old" and λίθος ''lithos'', "stone"), is a period in human prehistory that is distinguished by the original development of stone too ...
as is evidenced by the remains found at the site of "Las Forcas" close to the Morral Rock.
Being one of the northernmost points of the Islam in Spain, Graus was reconquered by the Christians in 1083 by
Sancho Ramirez
The name Sancho is an Iberian name of Basque origin (Santxo, Santzo, Santso, Antzo, Sans). Sancho stems from the Latin name Sanctius.Eichler, Ernst; Hilty, Gerold; Löffler, Heinrich; Steger, Hugo; Zgusta, Ladislav: ''Namenforschung/Name Studies/ ...
in the
Battle of Graus
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and for ...
, after the death of Ramiro I in 1064 in the siege of Graus. After this battle, Graus was ceded to the monastery of St.
Victorian of Asan, being responsible for rebuilding and repopulating the town, giving important privileges to those who populate Graus.
In 1223,
Peter II of Aragon
Peter II the Catholic (; ) (July 1178 – 12 September 1213) was the King of Aragon and Count of Barcelona from 1196 to 1213.
Background
Peter was born in Huesca, the son of Alfonso II of Aragon and Sancha of Castile. In 1205 he acknowled ...
granted the town with the title of "''Very Noble and Very Old Village of Graus''", which retains today.
In 1415 the
Dominican friar (lately canonized) St.
Vincent Ferrer
Vincent Ferrer, OP ( ca-valencia, Sant Vicent Ferrer , es, San Vicente Ferrer, it, San Vincenzo Ferreri, german: Sankt Vinzenz Ferrer, nl, Sint-Vincent Ferrer, french: Saint Vincent Ferrier; 23 January 1350 – 5 April 1419) was a Kingdom of V ...
visited the village being invited by Berenguer de Bardaxi. Both were commissioners three years earlier in Caspe, resolving the problem of succession of the
Crown of Aragon
The Crown of Aragon ( , ) an, Corona d'Aragón ; ca, Corona d'Aragó, , , ; es, Corona de Aragón ; la, Corona Aragonum . was a composite monarchy ruled by one king, originated by the dynastic union of the Kingdom of Aragon and the County of ...
. The Valencian saint was preaching here with great success, giving in appreciation of all done by the town a crucifix which is preserved and venerated in the local church. The main festivities of the town are dedicated to
Vincent Ferrer
Vincent Ferrer, OP ( ca-valencia, Sant Vicent Ferrer , es, San Vicente Ferrer, it, San Vincenzo Ferreri, german: Sankt Vinzenz Ferrer, nl, Sint-Vincent Ferrer, french: Saint Vincent Ferrier; 23 January 1350 – 5 April 1419) was a Kingdom of V ...
and the Holy Christ, celebrating that visit and his appreciated donation.
Centuries later, in 1588,
Philip II of Spain set a weekly market every Monday that has lasted until now. Lately, in 1681
Charles II of Spain
Charles II of Spain (''Spanish: Carlos II,'' 6 November 1661 – 1 November 1700), known as the Bewitched (''Spanish: El Hechizado''), was the last Habsburg ruler of the Spanish Empire. Best remembered for his physical disabilities and the War ...
added the Santa Lucia fair every May.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the town enjoyed an economic splendor, that helps the village the construction of great mansions, most of them still compose the awesome Main Square of the town and other places of the village. In these centuries is also built the most important monument of the town, the Basilica of Our Lady of the Rock.
In the 1920s, Graus incorporates the towns of Barasona and Benavente de Aragón. In the 1960s, Graus incorporates the towns of Aguinalíu, Panillo, Puebla de Fantova and Torruella de Aragon. And finally, in the 1970s, the village absorbs the towns of Chuseu, Güell and Torres de Chuseu.
Culture
* Baile de las Espadas (Swords Dance). This dance has a structure consisting of three different musical fragments, known as "''Cardelina''", "''Taninaná''" and "''Culebreta''" (Small Snake). It is danced by five groups with a total of twenty dancers and two "''repatanes''". Dressed in different outfits, the most striking is that used by the middle frame, whose dancers wears pompous lace, stockings, gloves, necklaces and flowered hats. The explanation for this costume can be found in trying to incorporate the feminine element in a male dance that, originally, was in honour of strength, virility and fertility.
* Baile de las Cintas. It is more modern than the previous one, because his music is a traditional grausina polka introduced in the second half of the 19th century and is played with orchestra. This polka was played on bagpipes before, and was known as "''the old polka''". The dancers dance holding a ribbons around a large pole decorated with ribbons and flowers, representing an ancestral fertility celebration. Previously, it was only danced by men until the 1960s, when mixed pairs were introduced and it was expanded from four to eight pairs, all dressed in the typical costume of Graus.
* La Mojiganga. It is a satirical and burlesque show performed every September 13, that performs a detailed review of what happened in the town during the year. His transgressor character caused many interruptions of this popular show: from 1809 to 1813 due to the French invasion, from 1834 to 1838 due to poor harvests and famine, and the longest, since the government of Primo de Rivera and until its restoration in 1979. In the parade that precedes the Mojiganga, it still retains some of its medieval origins, as the "estafermo" and the "tarasca", medieval mobile dolls that clear the passage of the Mojiganga court.
* La Llega. It is used to collect donations for the activities of the Confraternity of the Holy Christ, and runs through the village, dancing to the sound of bagpipes and blunderbusses with large wood sticks. During the "Llega" it is shared "el cordoné", a small hallowed ribbon that most of the population wears tied round the wrist.
* Las Albadas. They are songs that are sung through the streets of the town by night, dating from Moorish times, and tell stories of love and glorification of popular characters of the village.
* El Llibré. In order to have all the information of the popular festivals in Graus, each year is published "''el llibré''" (''little book'' in
Graus Aragonese
The Aragonese language has many local varieties, which can be grouped by valley or larger ''comarca'' areas. The area where Aragonese is spoken has quite a rugged relief and is generally sparsely populated with many tracts and valleys pretty is ...
), which reflects the program of the festivals, poems, stories and texts, most of them written in
Graus Aragonese
The Aragonese language has many local varieties, which can be grouped by valley or larger ''comarca'' areas. The area where Aragonese is spoken has quite a rugged relief and is generally sparsely populated with many tracts and valleys pretty is ...
.
Celebrations
* Town Festival, September 12 to 15, in honor of Holly Christ and Saint
Vicent Ferrer. This festival is declared "National Touristic Interest" mainly for they rich and varied traditions: one of the best preserved bagpipe tune and dance ("Baile de las Espadas", "Swords Dance") in Aragon, along with the traditional giants and "cabezudos" (big heads), blunderbusses, "Albada songs" and one of the best preserved
mojiganga in Spain called "La Mojiganga".
* "La Fiesta de la
longaniza
Longaniza (, or ) is a Spanish sausage (embutido) similar to a chorizo and also closely associated with the Portuguese linguiça. Its defining characteristics are interpreted differently from region to region. It is popular in the cuisines of ...
" (Festival of the Longaniza, a typical local dish). Each year, the last weekend of July is prepared the world's largest barbecue with 1100 kg of longaniza since 1997.
Gastronomy
The most known dish in Graus is the
longaniza
Longaniza (, or ) is a Spanish sausage (embutido) similar to a chorizo and also closely associated with the Portuguese linguiça. Its defining characteristics are interpreted differently from region to region. It is popular in the cuisines of ...
, one of the delicacies of this region and awarded with the brand "Q for Quality" in Aragon. Its importance is emphasized each year with the celebration of the "Longaniza Day", the last weekend of July.
The "''chireta''" is a typical dish of this region of Aragon, which is made up of lamb guts stuffed with rice and meat. Finally the guts are sewn and then boiled.
Graus is also known for be one of the largest
black truffle
''Tuber melanosporum'', called the black truffle, Périgord truffle or French black truffle, is a species of truffle native to Southern Europe. It is one of the most expensive edible mushrooms in the world.
Taxonomy
Italian naturalist Carlo Vi ...
markets nationwide.
Notable people
*
Joaquín Costa
Joaquín Costa (September 14, 1846, Monzón, Huesca Province – February 8, 1911) was a Spanish politician, lawyer, economist and historian.
The son of an Aragonese farmer and his first wife, Costa was self-educated and campaigned to end what ...
(1846–1911): politician, jurist and economist. Although Joaquín Costa was born in Monzón, he lived most of his life in Graus. He was known publicly as "''The Lion of Graus''".
[Toda la obra del pensador Joaquín Costa en internet, ]
*
Eusebio Bardají Azara (1776–1842): lawyer, diplomat and politician.
Twin Towns
*
Tournefeuille
Tournefeuille (; Languedocien: ''Tornafuèlha'') is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France.
It is the second-largest suburb of the city of Toulouse, and is adjacent to it on the west side. It is a member of the Toulo ...
,
Haute-Garonne
Haute-Garonne (; oc, Nauta Garona, ; en, Upper Garonne) is a department in the Occitanie region of Southwestern France. Named after the river Garonne, which flows through the department. Its prefecture and main city is Toulouse, the country's ...
References
{{Authority control
Municipalities in the Province of Huesca