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L'Esquirol

L'Esquirol
Municipality
L'Esquirol
L'Esquirol
Flag of L'Esquirol
Flag
Coat of arms of L'Esquirol
Coat of arms
L'Esquirol is located in Catalonia
L'Esquirol
L'Esquirol
Location in Catalonia
Coordinates: 42°2′14″N 2°22′10″E / 42.03722°N 2.36944°E / 42.03722; 2.36944Coordinates: 42°2′14″N 2°22′10″E / 42.03722°N 2.36944°E / 42.03722; 2.36944
Country  Spain
Community  Catalonia
Province Barcelona
Comarca Osona
Government
 • Mayor Àlex Montaña Rifà (2015)
Area
 • Total 61.8 km2 (23.9 sq mi)
Elevation 693 m (2,274 ft)
Population (2014)
 • Total 2,188
 • Density 35/km2 (92/sq mi)
Website lesquirol.cat

L'Esquirol (Catalan for squirrel), known as Santa Maria de Corcó until 4 June 2014, is a municipality in the comarca of Osona in Catalonia, Spain.

The name l'Esquirol (literally "the squirrel") comes from a former local inn Hostal de l'Esquirol which was recorded in the 17th century, but is thought to be ultimately from the old Catalan "es querol", meaning "the little rock".

"Esquirol" is used as a pejorative term for strikebreakers in Catalan, equivalent to "scab" in English. Legend has it that this meaning originated in the 19th century, when striking workers of a textile factory in the town of Manlleu were replaced by textile workers from the town of Esquirol. The Manlleu workers called the strikebreakers "esquirols" as an insult.

The village dates to the 15th century when it formed along the path from Vic to Olot. The settlement started around an inn called the Hostal de l'Esquirol on a homestead named Parai. The village was popularly known as L'Esquirol. The other name of the village, Santa Maria de Corcó, was added in 1743 when the Corcó parish relocated to Esquirol, and became the official name of the municipality during the Franco regime. On 4 June 2014 the name was officially changed back to L'Esquirol.




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Wikipedia

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