Almoster facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Almoster
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Municipality
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 Almoster
Location in Catalonia
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| Country |  ESP |
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| Province | Tarragona Province | |
| Municipalities of Spain |  Catalonia Catalonia |
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| Regions of Spain | Bajo Campo | |
| Government | ||
| • Type | ERC | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 6.0 km2 (2.3 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 333 m (1,093 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 1,342 | |
| • Density | 223.7/km2 (579/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
43393
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Almoster is a small village located in the province of Tarragona, which is part of the Catalonia region in Spain. In 2018, about 1,342 people lived there. It's a quiet place with a rich history and beautiful natural surroundings.
Contents
Where is Almoster?
Almoster is found in the southern part of Catalonia, just north of the city of Tarragona. It's in the northeast of Spain. The village is quite close to other important towns:
- It's only 4 kilometers (about 2.5 miles) from Reus.
- It's 19 kilometers (about 12 miles) from Tarragona.
- It's 110 kilometers (about 68 miles) from Barcelona.
Nature and Weather in Almoster
The land in Almoster is quite hilly in the north. This is because of mountains that are part of the Prades Mountains. The highest point in the village center is 320 meters (about 1,050 feet) above sea level. The lowest part is around 290 meters (about 950 feet). The highest point in the whole area is 700 meters (about 2,300 feet) high. This spot is on the side of a hill called Puig d'en Cama.
Almoster has a dry Mediterranean climate. This means summers are dry with little rain. Spring and autumn can have heavy rain sometimes. July is usually the driest month, with only about 15 mm (0.6 inches) of rain. September is often the wettest, with about 75 mm (3 inches) of rain. The total rainfall for the year is usually less than 500 mm (20 inches).
The average temperature in August, the warmest month, is around 24°C (75°F). In January, the coldest month, the average temperature is between -2°C and 0°C (28°F to 32°F).
Almoster's Past
Almoster has a long history. The town was first mentioned in records in 1164, but it was called "Mosterio" back then. The name "Almoster" didn't appear in documents until 1582. People believe the name comes from an old Arabic word, "Munastir," which means "border convent."
During the Middle Ages, Almoster was a walled town, but sadly, none of those walls remain today. The town also had a significant Jewish community. From 1547, Almoster became part of a group of towns called the "Commune of Campo."
In 1710, during a conflict, Almoster supported Archduke Charles. A local group of fighters, led by someone called Carrasclet, was very active in the area. They fought against the Castilian troops.
Later, in 1854, Almoster grew bigger by adding land that used to belong to Albiol. There was also a plan in 1850 for Almoster to join with the council of Reus, but this never officially happened.
Symbols of Almoster
As of early 2009, the official shield of Almoster had not yet been formally approved by the government of Catalonia.
Traditionally, the town used an oval-shaped red stamp. This stamp showed a gold cross and some other unclear images at the bottom.
Culture and Traditions
The main church in Almoster is dedicated to San Miguel (Saint Michael). It was built in 1704 in a simple style. Most of its original decorations were lost in 1936. One important piece that was lost was an altar dedicated to St. Peter. Only a special carving showing San Isidro was saved.
You can still see several old houses in the town with special decorative stones called keystones. For example, the house called Cal Llombart has balconies in the Renaissance style. The houses at Cal Victor look like traditional farmhouses.
Almoster celebrates its main festival on July 30th. This day honors Saints Abdon and Senen. Another important festival is on September 29th, for San Miguel. On the first Sunday of December, the town holds the "Festa de l'oli," which means "feast of oil." This is a chance to taste the fresh, excellent olive oil made in the area. This oil has a special quality mark called "Siurana."
Almoster's Economy
The main way people make a living in Almoster is through farming. The most important crops grown here are:
- Hazelnuts
- Olives
- Carob trees
See also
In Spanish: Almoster para niños
