Priorat

Priorat

Country: Spain
Autonomous community: Catalonia
Province: Tarragona
Capital: Falset
Municipalities: Bellmunt del Priorat, La Bisbal de Falset, Cabacés, Capçanes, Cornudella de Montsant, Falset, La Figuera, Gratallops, Els Guiamets, Lloar, Margalef, Marçà, El Masroig, Molar, Morera de Montsant, Poboleda, Porrera, Pradell de la Teixeta, Siurana, La Torre de Fontaubella, Torroja del Priorat, Ulldemolins, La Vilella Alta, La Vilella Baixa
Area: Total 496.2 km2 (191.6 sq mi)
Population: Total 9,196
Density: 18.5/km2 (48/sq mi)
Demonym: Prioratí, prioratina
Time zone: CET (UTC+1)
Largest municipality: Falset
Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.
Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.
Physical geography:
Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River Ebro, and by the comarques of Baix Camp, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou and the mountain ranges of Llebaria and Santa Marina.
The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.
Municipalities:
Bellmunt del Priorat - population: 310
La Bisbal de Falset - population: 248
Cabacés - population: 343
Capçanes - population: 412
Cornudella de Montsant - population: 859
Falset - population: 2,471
La Figuera - population: 124
Gratallops - population: 224
Els Guiamets - population: 304
Lloar - population: 114
Margalef - population: 133
Marçà - population: 616
El Masroig - population: 519
Molar - population: 294
Morera de Montsant - population: 148
Poboleda - population: 347
Porrera - population: 462
Pradell de la Teixeta - population: 189
Siurana - population: 167
La Torre de Fontaubella - population: 133
Torroja del Priorat - population: 142
Ulldemolins - population: 495
La Vilella Alta - population: 132
La Vilella Baixa - population:177

Priorat is near the Costa Daurada, in the west of the Camp de Tarragona, dominated by the Montsant massif, traditionally a haunt of hermits, in the basin of the river Siurana, a tributary of the Ebro. The central fringe consists of a large stretch of open slate land which was occupied by the people belonging to the old Carthusian priory (hence the name Priorat) of Escaladei, and produces a wine renowned for its strength and quality (today it has a guarantee of origin). Other mountainous areas are the Llena sierra (N) and the Argentera sierra and the Colldejou and Llaberia hills (E and SE). Falset, in the southern sector, outside the historic Priorat, is the capital. The territory was part of the Muslim domain of Siurana, and during the Reconquest lordly jurisdiction was in the hands of the Carthusian priory of Escaladei and the baronies of Entença (later county of Prades), Cabassers and Escornalbou. The economy has always been based on agriculture, especially the vine, and its distance from the main highways has kept the population sparse. The harsh beauty and the light that bathes the landscape have been captured on canvas in modern times by Catalan painters (Joaquim Mir, Jaume Mercadé, Iu Pascual). Its natural attractions and an interesting architectural heritage now draw day-trippers and visitors, though there is little tourist infrastructure.