Priorat () is a
comarca (county) in
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 ...
,
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the highly regarded wines that are certified under the
DOQ Priorat.
Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are certified as
DO Montsant although this region also has a small segment of the neighboring comarca, Ribera d'Ebre as well.
However,
galena mining was the main activity since prehistoric times until 1972, when the last galeana mine closed.
The other main agricultural activity is the production of olives and olive oil, the latter of which is certified under DOP Siurana.
Historically there was greater production of hazelnuts and almonds but these activities have become mostly for personal use. In late 1800s, a devastating attack of the insect phylloxera destroyed vines and mining kept activities and around twenty mines opened at that time.
Priorat saw a steady loss of population throughout the 20th century due to a number of external factors such as 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 ...
and the rise of coastal tourism. In 2004, with a more prosperous economy there was an overall increase in population that peaked in 2010 and has since been decreasing again each year. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital, Falset exceeding a population of 1,000 and while it has over 2,800 residents as of 2017, the comarca overall has reduced to 9,345 from a high of 10,145 making it the 3rd least populated comarca in all of Catalonia.
Physical geography
Priorat has an area of 496 km
2 and is bordered by the River
Ebro
, name_etymology =
, image = Zaragoza shel.JPG
, image_size =
, image_caption = The Ebro River in Zaragoza
, map = SpainEbroBasin.png
, map_size =
, map_caption = The Ebro ...
, and by the comarques of
Ribera d'Ebre
Ribera d'Ebre () is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. in the Terres de l'Ebre, and that extends to both sides of the river Ebro between the reservoir of Riba-roja and Miravet
Miravet is a municipality in the comarca of Ribera d'Ebre in the ...
,
Baix Camp
Baix Camp () is a comarca of Catalonia. It is one of the three comarques into which Camp de Tarragona was divided in the comarcal division of 1936.
Baix Camp is located on the coast, between Tarragonès to the northeast and Baix Ebre to the sout ...
, les
Garrigues, and
Conca de Barberà
Conca de Barberà () is a comarca (county) in the province of Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain. Its total area is . At its creation in 1936, it contained 23 municipalities, but in 1990, several of these were amalgamated; Rojals was combined with Mon ...
. 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
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. The main peaks are Mola de Llaberia (918.3 m), La Miranda (918 m) and Mont- ...
and
Serra de Santa Marina.
The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.
Municipalities
References
External links
*
Tourism office website
{{Coord, 41, 08, N, 0, 49, E, type:adm2nd_source:cawiki, display=title
Comarques of the Province of Tarragona