Viver i Serrateix
Encyclopedia
Viver i Serrateix is a municipality
in the comarca
of Berguedà
, Catalonia
. It comprises the towns of Viver and Serrateix, as per the name.
and seat in the town. The barons actually retained possession of the municipality's lands until the 17th century, when they sold it to the Rajadell family.
The municipality was created when the two towns were united in the 19th century. Soon thereafter, the towns of Mondarn and Pujol de Planes were also added to the united municipality.
in style, and contains one of its three original apses. The adjoining cloister
is in the neoclassical
style, and was constructed in the 18th century.
At the center of the town of Viver is the Church of Sant Miquel, consecrated in 1187. The present building, however, dates from the 17th century, and is principally in the renaissance
style, with late Gothic
influences. Its belltower was built in 1798.
The former Church of Sant Pere is currently in use as the town hall.
, and especially sheep and goats. Cereal
cultivation is also widespread, especially of wheat
, rye
, and barley
.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the 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...
of Berguedà
Berguedà
Berguedà is a comarca in the interior of Catalonia, Spain, lying partly in the Pyrenees and partly in Catalonia's Depressió Central.-Geography:...
, Catalonia
Catalonia
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...
. It comprises the towns of Viver and Serrateix, as per the name.
History
Viver and Serrateix was formerly controlled by the Barons of Viver, who had their castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
and seat in the town. The barons actually retained possession of the municipality's lands until the 17th century, when they sold it to the Rajadell family.
The municipality was created when the two towns were united in the 19th century. Soon thereafter, the towns of Mondarn and Pujol de Planes were also added to the united municipality.
Culture
The current parochial church of the municipality is what was formerly the Monastery of Santa Maria de Serrateix. It is RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
in style, and contains one of its three original apses. The adjoining cloister
Cloister
A cloister is a rectangular open space surrounded by covered walks or open galleries, with open arcades on the inner side, running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth...
is in the neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, and was constructed in the 18th century.
At the center of the town of Viver is the Church of Sant Miquel, consecrated in 1187. The present building, however, dates from the 17th century, and is principally in the renaissance
Renaissance architecture
Renaissance architecture is the architecture of the period between the early 15th and early 17th centuries in different regions of Europe, demonstrating a conscious revival and development of certain elements of ancient Greek and Roman thought and material culture. Stylistically, Renaissance...
style, with late Gothic
Gothic architecture
Gothic architecture is a style of architecture that flourished during the high and late medieval period. It evolved from Romanesque architecture and was succeeded by Renaissance architecture....
influences. Its belltower was built in 1798.
The former Church of Sant Pere is currently in use as the town hall.
Economy
The principal occupation of the municipality's inhabitants is animal husbandryAnimal husbandry
Animal husbandry is the agricultural practice of breeding and raising livestock.- History :Animal husbandry has been practiced for thousands of years, since the first domestication of animals....
, and especially sheep and goats. Cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
cultivation is also widespread, especially of wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
, rye
Rye
Rye is a grass grown extensively as a grain and as a forage crop. It is a member of the wheat tribe and is closely related to barley and wheat. Rye grain is used for flour, rye bread, rye beer, some whiskeys, some vodkas, and animal fodder...
, and barley
Barley
Barley is a major cereal grain, a member of the grass family. It serves as a major animal fodder, as a base malt for beer and certain distilled beverages, and as a component of various health foods...
.