Balaguer (Catalan pronunciation: [balaˈɣe]) is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebro. The municipality includes an exclave to the east. Balaguer also has a sister city in the western United States, Pacifica, California.

Balaguer
Church of St. Mary.
Church of St. Mary.
Flag of Balaguer
Coat of arms of Balaguer
Balaguer is located in Province of Lleida
Balaguer
Balaguer
Location in Spain
Balaguer is located in Catalonia
Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer (Catalonia)
Balaguer is located in Spain
Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer (Spain)
Coordinates: 41°47′24″N 0°48′18″E / 41.790°N 0.805°E / 41.790; 0.805
Country Spain
Community Catalonia
ProvinceLleida
ComarcaLa Noguera
Government
 • MayoressLorena González Dios (2023- )
Area
 • Total
57.3 km2 (22.1 sq mi)
Elevation
233 m (764 ft)
Population
 (2018)[2]
 • Total
16,841
 • Density290/km2 (760/sq mi)
DemonymsBalaguerí, balaguerina
ClimateCfa
Websitewww.balaguer.cat

Balaguer was conquered from the Moors by Ermengol VI of Urgell in 1106; he made it his new capital, and it remained so for subsequent counts of Urgell.

A Jewish community existed in Balaguer from the 11th century to the expulsion of the Jews in 1492.[3]

The town has a Gothic bridge, the "Pont de Sant Miquel", over the Segre river. This bridge was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in the battle of "Cap de Pont" (bridgehead battle in 1938) and rebuilt after the war.

Another Gothic building is the Santa Maria Church, in the heights above the city, in line with a quite finely conserved wall dating to the 15th century AD.

The historic mansion Palauet de la muralla de Balaguer, converted to a hotel, is located in the city center and part of the old city wall forms the back of the building.

The historic town is on the right bank of the Segre but, following the Spanish Civil War, construction began on a modern bridge, which initiated development of a modern extension of the town on the left bank.

General Franco's forces first entered Catalonia from Aragon in 1938 through Balaguer's bridgehead.


Culture

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Music

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Notable natives

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "El municipi en xifres: Balaguer". Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Retrieved 2015-11-23.
  2. ^ Municipal Register of Spain 2018. National Statistics Institute.
  3. ^ "Balaguer, Spain". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 25 June 2024.
  4. ^ "There's A Naked Guy Crawling Around Barcelona Pretending To Be A Dog". HuffPost UK. 11 August 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  5. ^ "Josep Pàmies Story". Slow Food. 2 July 2007. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
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