Tàrrega

Municipality

Tárrega/Tàrrega

Carrer del Carme

Flag

Coat of arms

Tàrrega

Location in Catalonia

Coordinates: 41°38′49″N 1°08′21″E / 41.64694°N 1.13917°ECoordinates: 41°38′49″N 1°08′21″E / 41.64694°N 1.13917°E

Country

Spain

Autonomous community

Catalonia

Province

Lleida

Comarca

Urgell

Government

• Mayor

Rosa Maria Perelló Escoda (2015) (CiU)

Area

• Total

88.4 km² (34.1 sq mi)

Elevation

373 m (1,224 ft)

Population (2014)

• Total

16,587

• Density

190/km² (490/sq mi)

Time zone

CET (UTC+1)

• Summer (DST)

CEST (UTC+2)

Postal code

25300

Official language(s)

Spanish and Catalan

Website

www.tarrega.cat

Tàrrega (Spanish: Tárrega) is a village and municipality located in the Urgell comarca, Province of Lleida, Catalonia. According to the 2009 census (INE), the village has a population of 16,539.

Tàrrega is the capital of Urgell in the Ondara River basin. The village has a Mediterranean/continental climate, with an average temperature of 14 °C, and an average rainfall of 451 mm per year according to the . Local attractions include a park at Sant Eloi mountain (420 m) with a Romanesque church of the 13th century. Its theatre fair, held annually each September, attracts over 100,000 people a year.

Tàrrega's growth began in the 11th century, when Count Ramon Berenguer I conquered its castle. Located at a strategic crossroad, medieval Tàrrega became an important economic and territorial possession. Indications of the town's vitality at the time include its Jewish community, its fairs and markets, and its large amount of artisans (especially goldsmiths). This period of prosperity was ended by the Black Death, which depopulated the town. Construction of Tàrrega's walls began to monopolize its resources, spurred by the fear of feudal violence. From the 16th to the 19th centuries, Tàrrega began to take on a more rural character, controlled by rich local families. A series of wars in the region caused instability in the city, as well as three revolts of Carlists.

In the second half of 19th century, Tàrrega underwent a revival. Important events in this time included the inauguration of a railway line connecting the town with Manresa and Lleida in 1860, reconstruction of the walls after a flood in 1874, and the granting of the title of city by King Alfonso XII in 1884. This period also saw the establishment of modern infrastructure in the city.

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Wikipedia