Catalonia - Katalonia

Catalonia (angle. Catalunya [kətəˈɫuɲə], Spanish Cataluña) - the autonomous community and the historical land of Spain.

Characteristic

Geography

It is situated on the Mediterranean Sea. It borders withFrance andAndorra and z Aragon and Valencia. It is an upland-mountainous region with few lowlands on the coast and in the Ebro valley.

Historical Catalonia also includes the greater part of the department Eastern Pyrenees in France (the so-called North Catalonia). The Catalan enclave of Llívia is also located in this department.

The term Catalan countries ("Països Catalans") is used to describe all the Catalan-speaking countries of the former Crown of Aragon.

History

In antiquity, the Greeks and Phoenicians established their colonies here (e.g. in the area of ​​Empuries). From the end of the 3rd century BC Catalonia was under the authority of Rome. In the 5th century Catalonia was conquered by the Visigoths, then in the 8th century by Arabs, who were in turn pushed out by Charlemagne. Catalonia gained real independence in the 10th century. In the early Middle Ages, it maintained cultural and political ties with the principalities of southern France. From the 12th century, she organized crusades against the Moors. In 1137 Catalonia merged with Aragon. After the merger of Aragon and Castile with a personal union (15th century) and the Reconquista, the role of Catalonia decreased, and the domination of Castile contributed to the degradation of the Catalan language.

In 1640, the Catalan Republic was proclaimed in Barcelona. Spain, however, suppressed the uprising (1652), and the rights of the Catalans were increasingly restricted. After another uprising (1705-1715), the right to use the Catalan language in provincial documents was even abolished. Separatist tendencies grew in Catalonia from the beginning of the 20th century. Catalonia gained autonomy in 1931 and declared itself a republic in 1934. During the civil war (1936-1939), it opposed the Francoist army, which caused it to lose its autonomy. She regained it in 1977.

Economy

Strongly industrialized region. Textile, chemical, electrotechnical, shipbuilding and automotive industries. Modern agriculture (wheat and rice in the Ebro Delta) and horticulture (olives, grapevines, citrus). Tourism has been one of the most important branches of the economy since the 1960s. The main tourist centers are Barcelona, ​​Costa Brava and Montserrat.

Preparations

Guides

• Magic Catalonia Jerzy Żebrowski, Rewasz Publishing House
• Catalonia. Map guide, ExpressMap Publishing House

Phrase book

• Good morning - Bon dia
• Good evening - Bona dic
• Goodbye - Adéu
• Please - Sisplau
• Sorry - Perdó
• Thank you - Gràcies
• Yes - Sí
• No - No.
• I don't know - No sé
• Where is ... - On és ...
• Where are you from? - D'on etc ...
• I am from ... - Em dic ...
• My name is - Ec dic ...
• How do you do? - Com estàs?

Drive

By plane

• BarcelonaBarcelona (IATA: BCN, ICAO :)
• Girona (Barcelona-Girona)Girona-Costa Brava (IATA: GRO, ICAO :)
• ReusReus (IATA: REU, ICAO :)
• Barcelona (Sabadell)Sabadell (IATA: QSA, ICAO :)

By car

When departing from Poland and going through France, it is best to take the D914, D900, A9 motorway or D13 road. Apart from them, N20 and N116 lead to Catalonia.

By ship

Regions

According to the administrative division in force, Catalonia is divided into 4 provinces:

• Barcelona
• Lleida
• Tarragona
• Girona

The provincial boundaries were established by the Spanish authorities in 1833, without taking into account local conditions. For this reason, they function only as territorial units of Spain, but are not statutory units of Catalonia. The basic territorial division of Catalonia, both in official relations and in public awareness, is based on a medieval administrative unit - comarka ("comarca"). In the media and in everyday life, comarki are the basic determinant of a location or place of residence. Compared to other communities in Spain, the competences of Catalan comarks are broad.

Cities

• Barcelona
• Girona
• Lleida
• Tarragona
• Figueres

Interesting places

• Barcelona, ​​the capital of Catalonia
• Besalú
• Cadaqués
• Costa Daurada
• Cunit
• Ebro delta
• Figueres
• Montserrat
• Poblet
• Tarragona
• Terres de l'Ebre
• Tossa de Mar
• Vic

Transport

All means of transport operate in Catalonia. We can find here railway, city transport, as well as airports and seaports. It is definitely the fastest and most convenient way to travel by car, but it is also worth trying by train or bus (generally by public transport).

Gastronomy

Despite the common language and numerous culinary similarities, Catalan cuisine traditionally does not include the gastronomic traditions of the Balearic Islands and Valencia. Catalan cuisine has historical ties to the French region of Roussillon as well as Naples and Sicily. In addition to products typical for the entire Mediterranean region, such as tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, fresh herbs and fish and seafood, the favorite ingredients of the dishes are various types of mushrooms and various cold meats, e.g. fuet, botifarra or llonganisa.

Security

Due to the intensification of pro-independence movements and separatist organizations, recording, observing and participating in demonstrations is not recommended. Poland, like all countries in the world, does not recognize the independence of Catalonia, nor does it support it, so in case of problems it defends its citizens against the Spanish authorities.

In terms of everyday safety, particular attention should be paid to personal belongings in crowded places, as theft may occur, which is a very common earning practice for the unemployed (mainly Roma).

Diplomatic representation

Diplomatic missions accredited in Catalonia

Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in BarcelonaAvda. Diagonal 593-595, 08014 Barcelona Phone: 34 933 22 05 42 Fax: - Website: www.barcelona.msz.gov.pl E-mail: [email protected]