Puigcerdà

In the world of Puigcerdà, there has always been great interest and curiosity on the part of society. For centuries, Puigcerdà has been a topic of debate and discussion in different areas, whether in politics, science, culture or everyday life. The influence of Puigcerdà is undeniable and its impact has been felt in all spheres of human life. In this article, we will thoroughly explore the role of Puigcerdà in history and its relevance in the present, analyzing its different aspects and delving into its importance to better understand the world around us.

Puigcerdà
Municipality
Casa de la Vila, the city hall
Casa de la Vila, the city hall
Flag of Puigcerdà
Flag
Coat of arms of Puigcerdà
Coat of arms
Puigcerdà is located in Catalonia
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Location in Catalonia
Puigcerdà is located in Spain
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà
Puigcerdà (Spain)
Coordinates: 42°25′54″N 1°55′42″E / 42.43167°N 1.92833°E / 42.43167; 1.92833
Country Spain
Autonomous community Catalonia
ProvinceGirona
ComarcaBaixa Cerdanya
Government
 • MayorAlbert Piñeira Brosel (2015)[1] (CiU)
Area
[2]
 • Total
18.9 km2 (7.3 sq mi)
Elevation
1,202 m (3,944 ft)
Population
 (2018)[3]
 • Total
8,981
 • Density480/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
DemonymPuigcerdanenc
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
ClimateCfb
Websitepuigcerda.cat

Puigcerdà (Catalan pronunciation: [ˌputʃəɾˈða]; Spanish: Puigcerdá, pronounced [putʃθeɾˈða]) is the capital of the Catalan comarca of Cerdanya, in the province of Girona, Catalonia, northern Spain, near the Segre River and on the border with France (it abuts directly on the French town of Bourg-Madame).

History

Puigcerdà is located near the site of a Ceretani settlement, which was incorporated into Roman territory. The Roman town was named Julia Libyca (modern day Llívia).

Puigcerdà was founded in 1178 by King Alfonso I of Aragon, Count of Barcelona. In 1178 Puigcerdà replaced Hix as the capital of Cerdanya. Hix is now a village in the commune of Bourg-Madame, in the French part of Cerdanya.

In the closing stages of the 1672–1678 Franco-Dutch War, the town was captured by a French army under the duc de Noailles but returned to Spain in the Treaties of Nijmegen.[4]

Puigcerdà was unique during the Spanish Civil War in having a democratically elected Anarchist council.[5]

The Portet-Saint-Simon–Puigcerdà railway was opened in 1929, crossing the Pyrenees to France.

Main sights

  • Puigcerdà Pool
  • Torre del Campanar (12th century), the ruins of a parish church destroyed in 1936
  • Romanesque church of Sant Tomàs de Ventajola, dating from 958
  • Romanesque church of Sant Andreu Vilallobent, dating to the 10th century and later restored
  • Convent of St. Dominic, founded in 1291 and finished in the 15th century
  • Old Hospital (1190), in Romanesque-Gothic style

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "Ajuntament de Puigcerdà". Generalitat of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-13.
  2. ^ "El municipi en xifres: Puigcerdà". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  3. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  4. ^ De Périni, Hardÿ (1896). Batailles françaises, Volume V. Ernest Flammarion, Paris. p. 215.
  5. ^ "Over the border…Puigcerdà". P-O Life. 2024-01-16. Retrieved 2024-12-31.
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