Bagà | |
|---|---|
 View from theTirabal Rock | |
 Coat of arms | |
 Map showing location within Catalonia | |
  Bagà Location in Catalonia | |
| Coordinates:42°15′17″N1°51′49″E / 42.25472°N 1.86361°E /42.25472; 1.86361 | |
| Country | Spain |
| Autonomous community | Catalonia |
| Province | Barcelona |
| Comarca | Berguedà |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Nicolás Viso Alamillos (2015)[1] (PSC) |
| Area | |
• Total | 43.1 km2 (16.6 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 785 m (2,575 ft) |
| Population (2018)[3] | |
• Total | 2,152 |
| • Density | 50/km2 (130/sq mi) |
| • Demonym | Baganès baganesa |
| Website | baga |
Bagà (Catalan pronunciation:[bəˈɣa]) is a Spanishmunicipality located in thecomarca ofBerguedà, inCatalonia.
Traditionally, Bagà is considered the capital ofAlt Berguedà, the mountainous northern half of the comarca.
Bagà is located at the head of the valley of theLlobregat river, at the feet of the high mountains of the Cadí range. The town itself is at 785 metres above sea level.
Bagà is 20 kilometers to the north ofBerga, and 7.5 kilometers to the south of theTúnel del Cadí, a tunnel which crosses the Cadí range, connecting with the region of laCerdanya.
The municipality includes a smallexclave to the west.
Bagà was founded in the 9th century A.D. when the region of Berguedà was repopulated byWilfred the Hairy. The noble family of Pinós dominated most ofAlt Berguedà throughout most of the Middle Ages and administered its domains from the town of Bagà, giving the town some importance.
The town was redesigned in the 13th century by Galceran IV de Pinós, and is a rare example of medieval city planning. The town grew rapidly and by the beginning of the 14th century a new neighbourhood had to be built outside the town's walls to accommodate its growing population. Bagà was also granted a weekly market (which continues to this day) consolidating its role as a regional capital.
As a curiosity, some medieval documents refer to a “Hugo of Bagà” being the founder of theKnights Templar, though this is uncertain.
The population of Bagà has increased in recent years primarily due to an influx of people from the smaller towns surrounding it.
| 1900 | 1930 | 1950 | 1970 | 1981 | 1986 | 2006 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 800 | 1,021 | 1,275 | 2,388 | 2,130 | 2,154 | 2,178 |
The economy of Bagà once centered on thetextile industry andmining. These industries provided the basis for the economy in the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. Since the collapse of these industries, the region’s economy has focused onrural tourism, as well as winter sports tourists filtered from the nearby region ofCerdanya
TheFia-faia is a celebration of the winter solstice dating from pre-Christian times which takes place in Bagà everyChristmas Eve. A bonfire is set in the mountains to the west of the town, where the sun sets. After dark, inhabitants of the town setfaies, or bundles ofCephalaria leucanta alight and carry them from the bonfire to the central square of the town, where they are left on the ground. Children then jump over the fires, singing “Fia-faia, Fia-faia, que nostro senyor ha nascut a la palla”, or ‘Fia-faia, for our Lord is born in the hay’. Afterwards, bread is toasted over the fires and eaten withall i oli orquince paste.
Places adjacent to Bagà | |
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