Berga Facts for Kids

For other uses, see Berga (disambiguation).

Quick facts for kids

Berga

Municipality

Flag	Coat of arms

Berga

Location in Province of Barcelona

Berga

Location in Catalonia

Berga

Location in Spain

Spain

Comarca

Berguedà

Area

• Total

22.6 km² (8.7 sq mi)

Elevation

704 m (2,310 ft)

Population

(2018)

• Total

16,199

• Density

716.8/km² (1,856/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Berguedà

Climate

Cfb

Berga (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈbeɾɣə]) is the capital of the comarca (county) of Berguedà, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It is bordered by the municipalities of Cercs, Olvan, Avià, Capolat and Castellar del Riu.

History
La Patum
Free Software Street
Sister cities
Notable people
See also

History

Berga derives its name from the Bergistani, an Iberian tribe which lived in the area before the Roman conquest. The Bergistani were first subdued by Hannibal in 218 BC. They rebelled twice against the Romans and were twice defeated; after their second uprising, much of the tribe was sold into slavery. Livy mentions their principal town, Castrum Bergium, which was probably the precursor of the present-day town of Berga.

Berga was ruled by viscounts in the Early Middle Ages and had its own counts from 988.

Berga was sold to king Peter II of Aragon in 1199.

In May 2012, the town council passed a motion declaring King Juan Carlos 'persona non grata' following a series of scandals involving the royal family, most notably the king's recent elephant hunting trip to Africa in the middle of Spain's deepening recession.

La Patum

The Patum de Berga, or simply La Patum, is a popular and traditional festival that is celebrated each year in the city. Locals dress as mystical and symbolic figures, and are accompanied either by the rhythm of a drum (the tabal, whose sound gives the festival its name) or band music.