La Quar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
La Quar
|
|||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Municipality
|
|||
The village of Sant Maurici de la Quar
|
|||
|
|||
Location in Berguedà
|
|||
 La Quar
Location in Province of Barcelona
La Quar
Location in Spain
|
|||
| Country |  Spain |
||
| Community |  Catalonia |
||
| Province | Barcelona | ||
| Comarca | Berguedà | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 38.2 km2 (14.7 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 885 m (2,904 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
|
|||
| • Total | 60 | ||
| • Density | 1.57/km2 (4.1/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Quartenc | ||
La Quar is a very small town and a municipality in Catalonia, a region in Spain. It is located in an area called Berguedà. This place is known for its quiet, isolated farmhouses and a few small groups of homes.
Long ago, the main part of La Quar was a place called Santa Maria de la Quar. It was built on a strong, rocky hill for protection. Today, no one lives there permanently. The center of the municipality has moved to Sant Maurici de la Quar, which is located right on the main road.
Contents
Exploring La Quar's Location
La Quar is tucked away in the lower parts of the Pyrenees mountains. It is surrounded by peaks that are about 1,000 meters (or 3,280 feet) high to the north and west.
Getting to La Quar
Even though La Quar is close to the town of Berga, you can only reach it from the south. This makes it a bit isolated and peaceful, away from busy areas.
A Glimpse into La Quar's Past
La Quar has a rich history, even though it is a small place. It was once home to an important monastery and a special statue.
The Monastery of La Portella
Within the municipality of La Quar, you can find the old ruins of the Monastery of La Portella. This monastery was once very powerful. Its influence made La Quar important, even with its small population.
A Noble Family's Influence
The influential noble family of La Portella also had their main home here. The monastery was first mentioned in records around the year 1003. It was finally left empty in 1835.
A University in Wartime
During the Carlist Wars, a series of conflicts in Spain, the Carlist leaders moved the University of Solsona to this abandoned monastery. They did this because the monastery was a good place for defense.
The Healing Virgin Statue
At some point, a Romanesque sculpture of the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus was found in La Quar. This statue is known as the Mare de Déu de la Quar.
A Place of Pilgrimage
People believed the Virgin statue had special healing powers. This made La Quar a popular place for local pilgrimages. Today, the sculpture is kept safe in the church of Sant Maurici. You can still see many crutches and wax models of body parts left by people who believed they were healed by her.
The Ancient Church of Santa Maria
The church of Santa Maria de la Quar was officially opened by Bishop Nantigis of La Seu d'Urgell around 899–900.
Renovations and Wealth
The church building was greatly improved in the 16th century. This was a time when Spain's growing empire brought a lot of wealth to the area. Many church buildings received money for improvements during this period.
See also
In Spanish: La Quart para niños
