Lleida (province)
Encyclopedia
Lleida (ˈʎɛjðə, ˈʎejðɛ; ) is a province
of north-eastern Spain
, in the western part of the autonomous community
of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Huesca and the countries of France
and Andorra
.
Of the population of 414,015 (2007), about 30% live in the capital, Lleida
. Some other towns in Lleida province are La Seu d'Urgell
(see of the archbishop who is the coprince to Andorra
), Mollerussa
, Cervera
, Tàrrega
, Balaguer
. There are 231 municipalities in Lleida. (See List of municipalities in Lleida).
In this province there is the Aran Valley, a special comarca
with more autonomy and which has Aranese
, a variety of Occitan, as its official language.
The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
is located in the province.
The province enjoys a thriving fruit-growing industry, including pears and peaches.
instead of el, els and also its pronunciation in a large number of words. One example of the pronunciation is the a at the end of the word that is pronounced like an e. The local dialect, properly known as North-Western Catalan is part of the Western Catalan block, and as such, shares some features with Valencian
(whose dialects are also part of that group).
and in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, between Barcelona and Madrid, and borders on France and Andorra to the north. This is a popular destination for many of those who love mountain activities and who are fans of skiing, culture and adventure sports, but it is also a destination that offers a wide variety of other tourism options which are ideal for holidays with friends and family. This is a territory where visitors can enjoy the natural environment in all four seasons of the year. It also offers a cultural and artistic heritage of the first order, as well as villages full of charm and history, and carefully conserved ancestral traditions. Lleida is also renowned for: active and adventure tourism, with offers to please even the most demanding of clients; its tasty gastronomy; and the authenticity and friendliness of its people.
, visitors will find nature in its purest form. Special mention should be made of: the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
, which is the only National Park in Catalonia; and the Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) and Cadi-Moixeró natural parks. In the Pre-Pyrenees
, amongst other places of interest, visitors will find the Collegats-Terradets Territorial Park, the Boumort Natural Hunting Reserve and the Congost de Mont-rebei gorge. In contrast, the Lleida Plain offers more peaceful landscapes. In some cases, these are rather sober, while in others, visitors will find fertile land with century-old olive trees, fruit trees, meadows and crop fields. In this area, it is particularly relevant to highlight such spectacular settings as the Estany d'Ivars i Vila-sana pool and the Aiguabarreig (confluence) of the rivers Segre, Cinca and Ebro.
, which have been declared part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is further complemented by a wide range of festivities and sporting and cultural events. It is also important to pick out some of the many new initiatives that have helped to extend the seasonal offer of Lleida’s tourism sector. These include: the Centre d'Observació de l'Univers (Centre for Observing the Universe), or PAM, of Montsec, which is an ambitious project that combines research, education and diffusion within the field of cultural and scientific tourism; the establishment of the Tren dels Llacs (Lakes Train), a touristic railway that connects the provincial capital to the Pre-Pyrenees; the creation of new exhibition spaces (including the Museum of Lleida, the Paper Dresses Museum of Mollerussa and the Skiing Museum of the Val d'Aran); the organisation of routes to help discover the natural, cultural and monumental treasures of Lleida (with the Castles of Sió Route, the Pyrenean Counties and Nostalgic Pallars Route, the Wine Route of Les Garrigues, and the Literary Routes of Pallars, etc.); and also projects to promote excellence in the field of tourism, such as the Network of Villages with Charm.
The Patronat de Turisme (Tourist Board) of the Diputació de Lleida created the “Ara Lleida” tourism brand back in 1990 with the aim of promoting the whole of this territory. Over the years, this has proved to be far more than just an advertising strategy, but now, after 22 years of working under the same "Ara Lleida" banner, the organisation has decided that it was time for a change of image. With this in mind, we have designed a fresher and more flexible logotype, updated the brand image and adjusted it to meet the needs of new times, employing a new type of creativity. The redesigned "Ara Lleida" logo, which incorporates the new "Visit Lleida" brand, presents a more global image that will allow us to command a better position within the tourism market and to attract new visitors from both Spain and further afield.
Provinces of Spain
Spain and its autonomous communities are divided into fifty provinces .In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian , sing. província.*Galician , sing. provincia.*Basque |Galicia]] — are not also the capitals of provinces...
of north-eastern Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, in the western part of the autonomous community
Autonomous communities of Spain
An autonomous community In other languages of Spain:*Catalan/Valencian .*Galician .*Basque . The second article of the constitution recognizes the rights of "nationalities and regions" to self-government and declares the "indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation".Political power in Spain is...
of Catalonia. It is bordered by the provinces of Girona, Barcelona, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Huesca and the countries of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
.
Of the population of 414,015 (2007), about 30% live in the capital, Lleida
Lleida
Lleida is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital city of the province of Lleida, as well as the largest city in the province and it had 137,387 inhabitants , including the contiguous municipalities of Raimat and Sucs. The metro area has about 250,000 inhabitants...
. Some other towns in Lleida province are La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell
La Seu d'Urgell is a town located in the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. La Seu d'Urgell is also the capital of the comarca Alt Urgell, head of the judicial district of la Seu d'Urgell and the seat of Bishop of Urgell, one of the Andorra co-princes...
(see of the archbishop who is the coprince to Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
), Mollerussa
Mollerussa
Mollerussa is the capital of the comarca of Pla d'Urgell, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is 250 metres above sea level. It had a population 14,733 people .Evolution demographic of the municipality:-External links:* * *...
, Cervera
Cervera
Cervera is the capital of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. The title Compte de Cervera is a courtesy title, formerly part of the Crown of Aragon, that has been revived for Felipe, Prince of Asturias....
, Tàrrega
Tàrrega
Tàrrega is a village and municipality located in the Urgell comarca, province of Lleida, Catalonia. According to the 2009 census , the village has a population of 16.539 inhabitants....
, Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebre....
. There are 231 municipalities in Lleida. (See List of municipalities in Lleida).
In this province there is the Aran Valley, a special comarca
Comarques of Catalonia
This is a list of the comarques of Catalonia . A comarca is roughly equivalent to a US "county" or a UK "district". However, in the context of Catalonia, the term "county" can be a bit misleading, because in medieval Catalonia, the most important rulers were counts, notably the Counts of Barcelona...
with more autonomy and which has Aranese
Aranese language
Aranese is a standardized form of the Pyrenean Gascon variety of the Occitan language spoken in the Val d'Aran, in north western Catalonia on the border between Spain and France, where it is one of the three official languages besides Catalan and Spanish...
, a variety of Occitan, as its official language.
The Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is one of the fourteen Spanish National Parks, the second in the Pyrenees and the only one in Catalonia....
is located in the province.
The province enjoys a thriving fruit-growing industry, including pears and peaches.
Language
It has a characteristic Catalan dialect popularly known as lleidatà, with lo, los used as the masculine definite articleDefinite Article
Definite Article is the title of British comedian Eddie Izzard's 1996 performance released on VHS. It was recorded on different nights at the Shaftesbury Theatre...
instead of el, els and also its pronunciation in a large number of words. One example of the pronunciation is the a at the end of the word that is pronounced like an e. The local dialect, properly known as North-Western Catalan is part of the Western Catalan block, and as such, shares some features with Valencian
Valencian
Valencian is the traditional and official name of the Catalan language in the Valencian Community. There are dialectical differences from standard Catalan, and under the Valencian Statute of Autonomy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua has been established as its regulator...
(whose dialects are also part of that group).
Tourism
Lleida enjoys a privileged geographical setting with Spain. It is located in the western part of CataloniaCatalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and in the north-west of the Iberian Peninsula, between Barcelona and Madrid, and borders on France and Andorra to the north. This is a popular destination for many of those who love mountain activities and who are fans of skiing, culture and adventure sports, but it is also a destination that offers a wide variety of other tourism options which are ideal for holidays with friends and family. This is a territory where visitors can enjoy the natural environment in all four seasons of the year. It also offers a cultural and artistic heritage of the first order, as well as villages full of charm and history, and carefully conserved ancestral traditions. Lleida is also renowned for: active and adventure tourism, with offers to please even the most demanding of clients; its tasty gastronomy; and the authenticity and friendliness of its people.
Nature
In terms of its natural environment, Lleida offers a wide variety of landscapes. In the high mountain area of the PyreneesPyrenees
The Pyrenees is a range of mountains in southwest Europe that forms a natural border between France and Spain...
, visitors will find nature in its purest form. Special mention should be made of: the Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park
Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici National Park is one of the fourteen Spanish National Parks, the second in the Pyrenees and the only one in Catalonia....
, which is the only National Park in Catalonia; and the Alt Pirineu (High Pyrenees) and Cadi-Moixeró natural parks. In the Pre-Pyrenees
Pre-Pyrenees
The Pre-Pyrenees are the foothills of the Pyrenees.-Description:As a mountainous system the Pre-Pyrenees are part of the Pyrenees. They run parallel to the main mountain range in a west to east direction...
, amongst other places of interest, visitors will find the Collegats-Terradets Territorial Park, the Boumort Natural Hunting Reserve and the Congost de Mont-rebei gorge. In contrast, the Lleida Plain offers more peaceful landscapes. In some cases, these are rather sober, while in others, visitors will find fertile land with century-old olive trees, fruit trees, meadows and crop fields. In this area, it is particularly relevant to highlight such spectacular settings as the Estany d'Ivars i Vila-sana pool and the Aiguabarreig (confluence) of the rivers Segre, Cinca and Ebro.
Sports
The comarques (local districts) of Lleida are also market leaders within Spain in the provision of adventure sports, with more than 170 companies organising around fifty different activities on land and water and in the air. This area is also Spain’s leading ski destination. Lleida has 11 different ski resorts which are marketed under the brand "Neu de Lleida" (Lleida Snow) and offer over 450 km of ski slopes. Their 81 ski lifts have the capacity to carry 115,000 skiers per hour, while the area immediately surrounding these winter sports complexes can also accommodate more than 30,000 visitors.Culture
Lleida’s rich monumental heritage - which is crowned by elements of its Romanesque heritage, which has its maximum expression in the churches of the Vall de BoiVall de Boí
The Vall de Boí is a narrow, steep-sided valley and a small municipality in the province of Lleida, in the autonomous community of Catalonia, northern Spain. It lies in the northeastern corner of the comarca of Alta Ribagorça, on the edges of the Pyrenees...
, which have been declared part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site - is further complemented by a wide range of festivities and sporting and cultural events. It is also important to pick out some of the many new initiatives that have helped to extend the seasonal offer of Lleida’s tourism sector. These include: the Centre d'Observació de l'Univers (Centre for Observing the Universe), or PAM, of Montsec, which is an ambitious project that combines research, education and diffusion within the field of cultural and scientific tourism; the establishment of the Tren dels Llacs (Lakes Train), a touristic railway that connects the provincial capital to the Pre-Pyrenees; the creation of new exhibition spaces (including the Museum of Lleida, the Paper Dresses Museum of Mollerussa and the Skiing Museum of the Val d'Aran); the organisation of routes to help discover the natural, cultural and monumental treasures of Lleida (with the Castles of Sió Route, the Pyrenean Counties and Nostalgic Pallars Route, the Wine Route of Les Garrigues, and the Literary Routes of Pallars, etc.); and also projects to promote excellence in the field of tourism, such as the Network of Villages with Charm.
The city of Lleida
Lleida, the provincial capital, also merits its own special mention, on account of its monumental legacy, which includes attractions like the splendid Seu Vella (old cathedral), which is a veritable jewel of Romanesque-Gothic period architecture and the Knight Templar Castle of Gardeny. These buildings coexist with equally interesting modern constructions such as the La Llotja, which is a congress and conference centre that offers a perfect venue for professional meetings and major shows and spectacles.Visit Lleida Brand
In recent years, improved communications have also helped to strengthen Lleida’s position as one of the Spain’s leading tourist destinations. Within this context, it is particularly important to highlight infrastructure that has already been consolidated, such as the High Speed Train service that connects Lleida to Barcelona, Madrid and the rest of Spain. It is also hoped that the recently inaugurated Lleida-Alguaire airport will give a further boost to the local tourist sector by positioning Lleida within Europe’s regional airport network and increasing its connectivity with different parts of the continent.The Patronat de Turisme (Tourist Board) of the Diputació de Lleida created the “Ara Lleida” tourism brand back in 1990 with the aim of promoting the whole of this territory. Over the years, this has proved to be far more than just an advertising strategy, but now, after 22 years of working under the same "Ara Lleida" banner, the organisation has decided that it was time for a change of image. With this in mind, we have designed a fresher and more flexible logotype, updated the brand image and adjusted it to meet the needs of new times, employing a new type of creativity. The redesigned "Ara Lleida" logo, which incorporates the new "Visit Lleida" brand, presents a more global image that will allow us to command a better position within the tourism market and to attract new visitors from both Spain and further afield.