Esplugues

Esplugues de Llobregat () is a municipality of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Formerly in the ''Barcelonès'', since 1990 it has been part of the comarca of Baix Llobregat. During recent decades Esplugues has evolved from a predominantly industrial town to a more diverse service area, preserving, however, its cultural and historical identity.

It is known for its characteristic old quarter, the only one in the Baix Llobregat area with such evocative and romantic areas. The winding ''Carrer de Montserrat'' goes through the sprawling architectural complex built between 1968 and 2017 by sculptor Xavier Corberó. The mansion of ''Can Cortada'' was home to the Baron Maldà, author of Calaix de Sastre, the most representative work of Catalan literature of the late 18th century. Esplugues holds a remarkable natural area with parks and green spaces such as the Park of Solidarity, the Park of Torrents and the Can Vidalet Park. From the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir, it is possible to enjoy a picturesque viewpoint of the entire town.

The German School of Barcelona and the American School of Barcelona are located in town and attract wealthy expatriate families. Due to its proximity to the Camp Nou stadium, many famous footballers reside in Esplugues, such as Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta, and Dani Alves, as well as the motorcycle racer Sete Gibernau, the former World Number 1 tennis player Arantxa Sánchez, and other personalities in Spanish showbiz.

City connection

Esplugues de Llobregat has an excellent road network, being connected to the highways B-20 and B-23, the N-340 road, and its location right across from the Avinguda Diagonal, the most important avenue in Barcelona. The city resides away from the Airport of Barcelona, it is away from the port of Barcelona, and away to the Catalan capital downtown.

It is linked to Barcelona through the following bus lines: 57, 63, 67, 68, 157, metropolitan buses, and T1, T2 and T3 Trambaix lines. The only metro station in the area is Can Vidalet, on the L5 line. Two other stops are under construction and will be opened in 2018.

History

At the summit of Sant Pere Màrtir mountain, remains of Iberian pottery have been found (monochrome glazed pottery, oxidized pottery, and Iberian "sandwich" type pottery), although no structural remains have been discovered. Esplugues de Llobregat has been documented since the year 964, in a will that mentions houses, vineyards, and orchards but does not reference any population center. It was not until 1096 that a territorial delimitation was recorded, noting around ten houses and approximately fifty inhabitants.

No remains of the small church from that time have survived, but it is known that it was very small, Romanesque, and had a modest bell gable. Dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, it was consecrated in 1103 by Bishop Berenguer of Barcelona. In the 12th century, the most influential family was the Picalquers, who owned most of the land in the area, including the Castle of Picalquers. During the Middle Ages, Esplugues was organized around two centers: the "sagrera," which housed the church and several farmhouses, and the Raval area, where the castle and an old inn were located.

It was not until the 18th century, with the construction of the Royal Road, that the town center shifted towards this new route, causing the old Raval nucleus to lose prominence. Evidence of this transformation includes the construction of a new inn (now the town hall) and the emergence of workers' houses on both sides of the road. By the 20th century, Esplugues transitioned from a village to a city, particularly from the 1950s onward, when its population grew from 5,000 inhabitants to 49,000 by 1990.

In recent decades, Esplugues has evolved from an industrial town into a service-oriented city, notable for its proximity to Barcelona. This has led to housing prices becoming, on average, among the highest in Spain.

Demography

The municipality has a population of 46,447.

Public Art

The city boasts numerous works of public art in its streets, squares, parks, and gardens. Can Vidalet Park features a Nymph by an unknown artist located in a small pond, as well as a Maternity by Eulàlia Fàbregas de Sentmenat (1966) and I Only Want to Become What I Am Not (Juan Ignacio Lomas, 2007). Similarly, Solidaridad Park features the works Atrium Libertatis (Alberto de Udaeta, 1998) and Between Dream and Desire (Alberto José Mesecuer). Likewise, in the gardens of Ca n'Hospital, we find four sculptures by Eulàlia Fàbregas (To the Victims of All Wars, Girl with Dog; Girl with Dove; and Girl with Boy). Other gardens with sculptural presence are those of the Robert Brillas Cultural Centre: Woman with a Guitar (Montserrat Sastre, 1986) and Commemoration of the Arrival of the Canigó Flame (Joan Sanagustín, 1985).

As for public roads, it is worth highlighting works such as: Montesa Prototype 1947-1970 (Josep Maria Subirachs, 1971), Esplugas in the Lower Llobregat (Agustí Guasch, 1985), Homage to Laureà Miró (Marcel Martí, 1985), To the Master (Eduard Estartús, 1995), Plenitude (Jorge Egea, 1999), Argo (Manel Marzo-Mart, 1999), Commemoration of the Constitution (Joaquim Lluís Martínez, 2000) and Soul (Jaume Plensa, 2013). The town has several sculptures by Eulàlia Fàbregas de Sentmenat: apart from those already mentioned in the parks of Can Vidalet and Ca n'Hospital, there are Alba, Allegory and Female Nude (1985). It is also worth highlighting the presence in several areas of the city of works by Xavier Corberó, an artist who settled in the city, where he had his home-studio (the current Espacio Corberó) and who bequeathed several works to the municipality: Samurai (1995), Familia (2003), Encuentro (2006) and the groups formed by La Ben Plantada, Jordi, José and Concepción (in Elisabeth Eidenbenz square) and La Cinteta, Eulàlia and Doloretes (in San Mateo street).

Education

International schools in the municipality include:
* German School of Barcelona
* American School of Barcelona

Twin towns

* Ahrensburg, Germany
* Macael, Spain

Notable people

* Ailyn, singer and songwriter
* Carme Chacón, politician and minister of Defence
* Xavier Corberó, sculptor
* Óscar Jaenada, actor
* Mercedes Milá, journalist
* Lorenzo Milá, journalist
* Gerard Piqué, football player
* Víctor Ruiz, football player
* Lamine Yamal, football player

References

* Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). ''Guia de Catalunya'', Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya. (Spanish). (Catalan).

External links

Official site
(''in Catalan'')

Government data pages

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esplugues De Llobregat

Populated places in Baix Llobregat