Sant Joan les Fonts is a municipality of 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, ...

Garrotxa Garrotxa () is a comarca (county) in Girona, Catalonia, Spain. Its population in 2016 was 55,999, more than half of them in the capital city of Olot. It is roughly equivalent to the historical County of Besalú. Geography Garrotxa borders ...

, located in

Girona Girona (officially and in Catalan , Spanish: ''Gerona'' ) is a city in northern Catalonia, Spain, at the confluence of the Ter, Onyar, Galligants, and Güell rivers. The city had an official population of 103,369 in 2020. Girona is the capital ...

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 nort ...

, northern

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 ...

. As of 2014, the population is 2,919. Until 1949 it was known as Begudà. It is part of the Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park.

The municipality

It is the second most populous municipality of Garrotxa (after Olot). It is located at the confluence linking

to Olot,

Figueres Figueres (, ; , es, Figueras, ) 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 museu ...

and Camprodón. It is crossed by the river

Fluvià The Fluvià () is a river in Catalonia. It rises in the Serralada Transversal, passes through Olot and Besalú, and flows into the Mediterranean Sea near Sant Pere Pescador. The ancient city of Empúries Empúries ( ca, Empúries ) was a ...

, 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 The War of the Spanish Succession was a European great power conflict that took place from 1701 to 1714. The death of childless Charles II of Spain in November 1700 led to a struggle for control of the Spanish Empire between his heirs, Phil ...

. There was no significant population growth until the eighteenth century, with the incorporation of immigrants from Olot and the vicinity. Later,

war War is an intense armed conflict between states, governments, societies, or paramilitary groups such as mercenaries, insurgents, and militias. It is generally characterized by extreme violence, destruction, and mortality, using regular o ...

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 internecine 1936 civil war.

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

Main sights

Monestir de Sant Joan les Fonts is a Romanesque building, declared a national monument. The medieval bridge, built with volcanic stone, crosses the river

and links the core of the town with the existing church and the Castanyer neighborhood. A fortress is 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. The Juvinyà estate is known as the oldest Romanesque 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. An area of archeological interest also known for the lava flow that formed part of the old

lock Lock(s) may refer to: Common meanings *Lock and key, a mechanical device used to secure items of importance *Lock (water navigation), a device for boats to transit between different levels of water, as in a canal Arts and entertainment * ''Lock ...

known as "la Reformada".

Holidays

Various holidays are celebrated: * The festival of San Isidro, in May * The festival of Roser, Easter Monday * 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.

Twin towns

* Ydes, France

References

External links

City council website

Government data pages
{{Authority control Municipalities in Garrotxa Populated places in Garrotxa