Granollers () is a city in central

Catalonia Catalonia (; ca, Catalunya ; Aranese Occitan: ''Catalonha'' ; es, Cataluña ) is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy. Most of the territory (except the Val d'Aran) lies on the north ...

, about 30 kilometres north-east of

Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the second most populous municipality of Spain. With a population of 1.6 million within ci ...

. It is the capital and most densely populated city in the

comarca A ''comarca'' (, or , or ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, ...

Vallès Oriental Vallès Oriental () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Granollers. Along with Vallès Occidental it forms the grand comarca of Vallès. In May 2015, Vallès Oriental lost four municipalities - Castellcir, Castellterçol, ...

. Granollers is now a bustling business centre, having grown from a town dominated by Catalonia's textile industry that was prominent during the 19th Century. However, in the southern portion of the municipality, the

Palou Palou is a Catalan language, Catalan surname. Notable people with the surname include: *Álex Palou (born 1997), Spanish racing driver *Anthony Palou (born 1965), French writer *Berenguier de Palou (fl. 1160–1209), Catalan troubadour from Palol i ...

area retains the agricultural characteristics of the past. Granollers forms a conurbation with Canovelles,

Les Franqueses del Vallès Les Franqueses del Vallès (; es, Las Franquesas del Vallés ) is a municipality in the ''comarca'' of the Vallès Oriental Vallès Oriental () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Granollers. Along with Vallès Occidenta ...

and the district of La Torreta in

La Roca del Vallès La Roca del Vallès is a village in the comarca of Vallès Oriental in the province of Barcelona and Catalonia. The municipality covers an area of and the population in 2014 was 10,518. Notable people *Salvador Illa Salvador Illa Roca (born ...

. The city is crossed by the

Congost river {{Infobox river , name = Congost River , name_native = , name_native_lang = , name_other = , name_etymology = , image = El riu Congost a l'alçada de la Garriga.jpg , image_size = ...

, a tributary of the Besòs. It is considered to be the other jewel of the

Barcelona metropolitan area The Barcelona urban area is an urban area in Catalonia (Spain) centered on the city of Barcelona and located less than 100 km south of the border with France. With a population of over 5 million, it is the most populous urban area on the Me ...

. It is around 25 km north-east of the centre of Barcelona.

History

Spanish Civil War

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, lin ...

, in May 1938, the

Bombing of Granollers The Bombing of Granollers took place during the Spanish Civil War in 1938. On 31 May 1938, the Italian ''Aviazione Legionaria'' bombed the town of Granollers. There were between 100 and 224 civilian deaths. Background On 16 April 1938, the Ang ...

was carried out by Italian bombers, resulting in 100-200 civilian fatalities.

Notable landmarks

La Porxada La Porxada is a 16th-century corn exchange (''llotja'') in the Catalan town of Granollers, near Barcelona. It was declared to be an official artistic and historical monument (MHA) in 2006. References Further reading

* * Buildings and st ...

, is a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

building which served as a grain storehouse, emblematic of the town. On Corró street, there is the ancient hospital of Sant Domènec, now the Francesc Tarafa theatre, a good example of restored

Gothic architecture Gothic architecture (or pointed architecture) is an architectural style that was prevalent in Europe from the late 12th to the 16th century, during the High and Late Middle Ages, surviving into the 17th and 18th centuries in some areas. It e ...

. The church of Sant Esteve in the city centre also contains Gothic elements from the 15th Century along with an octagonal tower.

Notable natives and residents

* King

Peter V of Aragon Peter of Coimbra (also known as Peter the Constable) ( pt, Pedro, pronounced ; c. 1429 – Granollers, 30 June 1466), sometimes known as Peter V of Aragon, was the son of Infante Peter, Duke of Coimbra, who became the fifth Constable of Portu ...

died in Granollers *

Gerard López Gerard López Segú (; born 12 March 1979), usually known as just Gerard, is a Spanish former professional footballer, and a manager. An all-around midfielder, he was known for precision passes and ball control skills. During his career, he pla ...

, football player for Barcelona and Spain, born in Granollers * Jordi López, footballer, born in Granollers *

Marc Valiente Marc Valiente Hernández (born 29 March 1987) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Indian Super League club FC Goa. He was formed at Barcelona and later joined Sevilla, but was mainly a reserve at both clubs. ...

, footballer, born in Granollers *

Aleix Espargaró Aleix Espargaró Villà (born 30 July 1989) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle road racer. He was thSpanish 2004 FIM CEV 125cc International Champion and currently competes in the MotoGP class for Aprilia Racing team. Career Espargaró was b ...

, motorcycle racer, born in Granollers *

Pol Espargaró Pol Espargaró Villà (born 10 June 1991) is a Spanish Grand Prix motorcycle racer who for 2023 will ride in the MotoGP class for the newly named GasGas Factory Racing team, a development of Tech3. He previously spent two years with Repsol H ...

, motorcycle racer, born in Granollers * Abraham Minero, footballer *

Jordi Benito Jordi Benito i Verdaguer (1951, in Granollers – December 9, 2008 in Barcelona Barcelona ( , , ) is a city on the coast of northeastern Spain. It is the capital and largest city of the autonomous community of Catalonia, as well as the se ...

, artist, born in Granollers *

Dani Mateo Daniel Mateo Patau (born 1 June 1979 in Granollers, Barcelona, Spain) is a Spanish comedian, actor and radio and tv host famous for his work in the program '' Sé lo que hicisteis...'' in La Sexta channel. He graduated in journalism at the Auto ...

, TV host, journalist and comedian, born in Granollers.

References

Sources

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. (Spanish). (Catalan).

External links

Official website

Official guide

Government data pages
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