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Benabarre (), in
Ribagorçan Ribagorçan (autonym: or ) is a number of Romance dialects spoken in the modern territories of the medieval County of Ribagorza, in northern Spain. The area corresponds to the modern administrative units of Ribagorza/Ribagorça and La Litera ...
and Aragonese: Benavarri () is a town and municipality in the
Aragon Aragon ( , ; Spanish and ; ) is an autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community in Spain, coextensive with the medieval Kingdom of Aragon. In northeastern Spain, the Aragonese autonomous community comprises three provinces of Spain, ...
ese
comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
of Ribagorza, in the
province of Huesca Huesca (; ), officially Huesca/Uesca, is a province of northeastern Spain, in northern Aragon. The capital is Huesca. Positioned just south of the central Pyrenees, Huesca borders France and the French departments of Haute-Garonne, Pyrénées- ...
, Spain. Benabarre is the historical and cultural capital of the comarca. It is part of the geo-linguistic area of
La Franja La Franja (; "The Strip"; ) is the area of Catalan-speaking territories of eastern Aragon bordering Catalonia, in Spain. It literally means ''"the strip"'' and can also more properly be called (Aragonese Strip), (Western Strip) or (Eastern St ...
, where
Ribagorçan Ribagorçan (autonym: or ) is a number of Romance dialects spoken in the modern territories of the medieval County of Ribagorza, in northern Spain. The area corresponds to the modern administrative units of Ribagorza/Ribagorça and La Litera ...
dialect of Catalan is spoken. In ancient texts it appears as ''Benabarri''. It is located in the
Pre-Pyrenees The Pre-Pyrenees are the foothills of the Pyrenees. Description As a mountainous system the Pre-Pyrenees are part of the Pyrenees. They run parallel to the main mountain range in a west to east direction. On the French side the Pyrenees's slope ...
, 90 km from
Huesca Huesca (; ) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within the Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon. It was the capital of the Kingdom of Aragon between 1096 and 1118. It is also the capital of the Spanish Huesca (province), ...
and 65 km from
Lleida Lleida (, ; ; '' see below'') is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in Segrià county, the Ponent region and the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Central Depression. It ...
, at an altitud of 792 m, in a small
syncline In structural geology, a syncline is a fold with younger layers closer to the center of the structure, whereas an anticline is the inverse of a syncline. A synclinorium (plural synclinoriums or synclinoria) is a large syncline with superimposed ...
between
Ésera The Ésera () is a tributary of the Cinca in the High Aragon. It is part of the valley of the Ebro and its drainage basin. Its etymology is Celtic and it is cognate with several European rivers: Isar, Jizera, Isère, Isel, IJssel, and Eisack ...
and Cajigar rivers. Most of the territory, however, belongs to the
Noguera Ribagorçana The Noguera Ribagorzana () or Noguera Ribagorçana () is a river in northern Spain.Dorothy Noyes ''Fire in the Placa: Catalan Festival Politics After Franco'' 2003 p. ix "Catalonia proper — a triangle with the Pyrenees as one side, the Mediter ...
basin. To the north we find the Castillo de Laguarres mountain range, and to the south we find the Montsec Range. Through its municipal area runs the N-230 road, that connects Lleida and the
Val d'Aran Aran (; ; ) (often known as the Aran Valley, or Val d'Aran in Aranese Occitan; in other forms of Occitan: ''Vath d'Aran'' or ''Vau d'Aran'', in Catalan: ''Vall d'Aran'', in Spanish: ''Valle de Arán'') is an autonomous administrative entity (form ...
.


History

It is a very old town, probably the Roman "Bargidum" or "Bargusia", and it is said that it was given to the Arabs taking the name of their first lord Aben Avarre. It was conquered from Islam around the year
1062 Year 1062 ( MLXII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Julian calendar. Events By place Europe * Spring – Coup of Kaiserswerth: The 11-year-old King Henry IV is abducted, as a result of a conspiracy of German nobles ...
(although there is no document proving the exact date). What leaves no doubt is that it was conquered by
Ramiro I of Aragon Ramiro I (bef. 10078 May 1063) was the first King of Aragon from 1035 until his death. His kingdomship was petit, and unfederated, which was sometimes referred to as a petty kingdom. Although his legacy was a minor kingdom, he would expand th ...
for the
Kingdom of Aragon The Kingdom of Aragon (; ; ; ) was a medieval and early modern Monarchy, kingdom on the Iberian Peninsula, corresponding to the modern-day Autonomous communities of Spain, autonomous community of Aragon, in Spain. It became a part of the larger ...
within the same military campaign in which he conquered, immediately north of the town, the places of Luzás, Viacamp y Litera, Tolva, Laguarres and Lascuarre, and to the south of the town, but north of Purroy and Caserras, the lands of Falces, Falcibus, from one of whose houses and its alloys, the king granted a franchise to Agila de Falces and brothers on February 1, 1067 (as documented on that date). Traditionally, Benabarre was the capital of the historic
County of Ribagorza The County of Ribagorza or Ribagorça (; ; ) was a medieval county on the southern side of the Pyrenees, including the northeast of modern Aragón and part of the northwest of modern Catalonia, both in Spain. It was originally the independent ...
, which was more expansive in territory than today, and included the
comarca A ''comarca'' (, , , ) is a traditional region or local administrative division found in Portugal, Spain, and some of their former colonies, like Brazil, Nicaragua, and Panama. The term is derived from the term ''marca'', meaning a "march, mark ...
of
Alta Ribagorça Alta Ribagorça () is a comarca in the Alt Pirineu region, in Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is El Pont de Suert. The highest peak is the Comaloformo (3030 metres above sea level) in the massif of Bessiberri. Northeast of the region is the west ...
, now in the province of
Lleida Lleida (, ; ; '' see below'') is a city in the west of Catalonia, Spain. It is the capital and largest town in Segrià county, the Ponent region and the province of Lleida. Geographically, it is located in the Catalan Central Depression. It ...
,
Catalonia Catalonia is an autonomous community of Spain, designated as a ''nationalities and regions of Spain, nationality'' by its Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia of 2006, Statute of Autonomy. Most of its territory (except the Val d'Aran) is situate ...
. It was during the
Spanish War of Independence The Peninsular War (1808–1814) was fought in the Iberian Peninsula by Kingdom of Portugal, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom against the invading and occupying forces of the First French ...
, from 1808 to 1814, that the French Napoleonic troops, in retaliation against the inhabitants of Benabarre, decided to make
Graus Graus () is a village in the Spanish province of Huesca, located in the Pyrenees at the confluence of rivers Esera and Isabena. It is the administrative capital of the region. It is one of the areas of Aragon in which is still preserved the Ara ...
the capital of the comarca. Ever since, Benabarre ceased to be the administrative capital, but it is still the most important cultural and historical center of the region. During the
First Carlist War The First Carlist War was a civil war in Spain from 1833 to 1840, the first of three Carlist Wars. It was fought between two factions over the succession to the throne and the nature of the Monarchy of Spain, Spanish monarchy: the conservative a ...
(1833–1840) it was one of the towns that suffered the most from those in the province of Huesca.


Administration


List of the last mayors of Benabarre


Electoral results


Geography


Population centers of the municipality

* Aler. Term added to Benabarre before 1930. Located at 669 meters of altitude and in the basin of the
Ésera The Ésera () is a tributary of the Cinca in the High Aragon. It is part of the valley of the Ebro and its drainage basin. Its etymology is Celtic and it is cognate with several European rivers: Isar, Jizera, Isère, Isel, IJssel, and Eisack ...
river. To the northwest of the place is the hermitage of Nuestra Señora de las Ventosas. * Entença. Located on the left bank of the Cajigar river. It belongs to Benabarre since 1974. The castle of the town was the origin of the
Entença Barony Entença may refer to: * Entença (town), village in the pre-Pyrenees *House of Entença, ancient dynasty of the Crown of Aragon and Catalonia *Berenguer de Entença, commander of the Catalan Company *Carrer d'Entença, Barcelona Carrer d'Entença ...
. * Benabarre (capital of the municipality). (Its streets maintain a medieval structure). Located 1 km to the north is the old Dominican Monastery of Our Lady of Linares. * Caladrones. It is located on a hill on the left bank of the
Río Guart Rio or Río is the Portuguese and Spanish word for "river". The word also exists in Italian, but is largely obsolete and used in a poetical or literary context to mean "stream". Rio, RIO or Río may also refer to: Places United States * Rio, Flo ...
. From the old Castle of Caladrones only the tower remains. In 1974, the municipal term of Caladrones along with its towns: Caladrones, Ciscar and Entença, was annexed to the one of Benabarre. *
Castilló del Pla Castilló del Pla (''Castelló del Pla'' in Ribagorçan) is a locality belonging to the municipality of Benabarre, in the province of Huesca, Aragon, Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Weste ...
. Located at the foot of the Corrodella range, at 762 meters of altitude. Previously it was part of the municipality of Pilzán. * Ciscar. Located at 591 meters of altitude on the right bank of the Cajigar river. *
Estaña Estaña is a locality located in the municipality of Benabarre, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 7. Geography Estaña is located 116km east of Huesca Huesca (; ) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within t ...
. It is located at 716 meters of altitude in the mountains that separate the Guart River and the waters of "La Sosa" ( Cinca river). *
Pilzán Pilzán is a locality located in the municipality of Benabarre, in Huesca province, Aragon, Spain. As of 2020, it has a population of 10. Geography Pilzán is located 106km east of Huesca Huesca (; ) is a city in north-eastern Spain, within ...
. At 905 meters of altitude above sea level. Until 1972 it was an independent municipality. The population entities that included the term were: Estaña, Castilló del Pla, the depopulated of Penavera i Cabestany, and la quadra d'Andolfa. * Purroy de la Solana. Located above the ravine "El Molí". Independent term until 1974. The municipality included the hermitage of ''Nuestra Señora del Pla''.


Local festivities

*
June 8th Events Pre-1600 * 218 – Battle of Antioch: With the support of the Syrian legions, Elagabalus defeats the forces of emperor Macrinus. * 452 – Attila leads a Hun army in the invasion of Italy, devastating the northern provinces a ...
, Saint Medard: patron festivities. ** The most remarkable act is the ''pastorada'' between the master and the ''ramadá'' (shepherd), and the typical dance '' El ball dels palitrocs''. It is also held the ''Baixada de Carricotxes'', a float ornament contest. *
August August is the eighth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Its length is 31 days. In the Southern Hemisphere, August is the seasonal equivalent of February in the Northern Hemisphere. In the Northern Hemisphere, August ...
**'' Ball dels Salvatges'': Recently recovered representation. It is a type of theater with a series of dances starring men of different social status, whose purpose is to conquer a lady. Since 2010 it is a biennial representation. **The summer carnival is held on the third weekend of August. Its Holy Week procession is also well known in the Ribagorza, unusual in this sense because the Romans who lead the procession have little to do with the Romans that we can all know, it is a Roman costume with influences of a Renaissance soldier, a complete visual delight for tourists who want to stop and watch this procession on Holy Friday at 10pm from the Our Lady of Valdeflores church square.


Patrimony

* The Castle of the Counts of Ribagorça, from the X-XI centuries. * 19th century parish church. * Medieval historical center. * Hermitage of Saint Medard. * Flour mill. * Ice well. * 1932 oil mill. * 13th century public laundry Also noticeable are the Hermitage of Santa Maria of Caladrones and the Hermitage of San Salvador of Entença, as well as churches of Saint Romanus of Estaña, Saint Stephen of Estaña, Saint James of Entença, Saint Anne of Caladrones, Santa María of Aler, Saint Cristopher of Ciscar and Saint Michael of Ciscar.


Illustrious Benabarrenses

*
Juan II de Ribagorza Juan de Aragón y de Jonqueras, Count of Ribagorza (27 March 1457 in Spain – 5 July 1528 in Monzón, Spain) was Viceroy of Catalonia (1496–1501) and Viceroy of Naples (1507–1509), replacing Gonzalo Fernández de Córdoba. Born at Benabarre ...
(or Juan de Aragón): count of Ribagorza, lieutenant of Catalonia and viceroy of Naples (1457–1528) * Pedro García de Benavarre: Gothic painter (15th century) * Juan Bayarte Calasanz y Ávalos: Governor of
Menorca Menorca or Minorca (from , later ''Minorica'') is one of the Balearic Islands located in the Mediterranean Sea belonging to Spain. Its name derives from its size, contrasting it with nearby Mallorca. Its capital is Maó, situated on the isl ...
and
Ibiza Ibiza (; ; ; #Names and pronunciation, see below) or Iviza is a Spanish island in the Mediterranean Sea off the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. It is 150 kilometres (93 miles) from the city of Valencia. It is the third largest of th ...
in the 17th century * Jaume Santiveri i Piniés: businessman, founder of Santiveri


Twinned towns

* ,
Aurignac Aurignac (; ) is a commune in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern France, close to the Pyrénées. It was the seat of the former canton of Aurignac (population 4,160), which was composed of 19 communes. It is part of the ancient region ...
.


See also

*
List of municipalities in Huesca This is a list of the municipalities in the province of Huesca, in the autonomous community of Aragon, Spain Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country in Southern Europe, Southern and Western Europe with territories in North Africa. F ...


References


External links


Benabarre on Diputación de Huesca
{{authority control La Franja Ribagorza Municipalities in the Province of Huesca