Maçanet de Cabrenys facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Maçanet de Cabrenys
Municipality
St. Martin's belltower
Flag Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Autonomous Community	Catalonia
Province	Girona
Comarca	Alt Empordà
Area
• Total	67.9 km2 (26.2 sq mi)
Elevation	370 m (1,210 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	681
• Density	10.029/km2 (25.98/sq mi)
• Demonym	maçanetenc /maçanetenca

Maçanet de Cabrenys is a small town in Catalonia, Spain. It's located in the Alt Empordà region, close to the Pyrenees mountains. This area is known for its beautiful nature and many natural springs. The town is found in a valley, about 370 meters above sea level. It sits between two tall peaks: the Puig de Les Salines (1331 meters) and the Roc de Frausa (1445 meters).

Several small villages are part of Maçanet de Cabrenys. These include Arnera, Les Creus, Les Mines, Les Salines, Tapis, Els Vilars, and Oliveda. The Rivers Arnera and Frausa flow through the area. Because of its many springs, the town is a popular spot for tourists. Tourism is a big part of the local economy. The town also has a special factory that bottles water from its springs.

History of Maçanet de Cabrenys

People have lived in the valley of the Arnera River for a very long time. Stone tools, like a Neolithic axe, were found here. A large standing stone, called La Pedra Dreta, also shows ancient human presence. These finds tell us that people lived here even in prehistoric times.

The first time Maçanet de Cabrenys was mentioned in writing was in 814. A document from Louis the Pious talked about a village called Macanetum. In 954, Count Guifré II of Besalú gave land in Tapis to a monastery. This was for building the Sanctuary of Les Salines.

During the Middle Ages, the town was protected by walls. You can still see parts of these walls today. They have three gates from the 15th century. In 1440, the town added "de Cabrenys" to its name. This was because it became part of the Cabrenys family's land.

A terrible event happened in 1553. The Black Plague wiped out half of the town's people. Later, in July 1675, a general named Le Bret attacked the village. He came with 1,500 men and looted the town.

Economy and Life in Maçanet de Cabrenys

Maçanet de Cabrenys has many natural springs. This, along with its pleasant climate, brings many tourists to the area. Tourism is the main way people earn money here. Building new homes and businesses is also important.

The town has a factory that bottles water from its springs. In the past, there were textile factories. There were also factories that made cork caps. Today, there are many restaurants for visitors. There used to be a large factory that made pipes. Now, only a small workshop remains. Farming, raising animals, and working with forests are not as common as they used to be.

Places to Visit

Church of Sant Martí

The Church of Sant Martí was built a long time ago, in the 12th or 13th century. It is an example of late Romanesque style. The church has one long, rectangular room with a curved ceiling. At the end, there is a rounded section called an apse.

The main entrance has a special design with four arches. The wooden door has beautiful iron details from that time.

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  Façade of the church

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  Details of the portal

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  Inside the church

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  Apse

Chapel of Sant Sebastià

This chapel was built after a plague outbreak in the late 1500s. People in the town helped pay for it. The chapel you see today was rebuilt in the 18th century.

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  Façade of the chapel

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  Inside the chapel

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  Apse

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Les Salines

This sanctuary is located high up on a mountain, almost at its peak. It is about 1,100 meters high and 15 kilometers from the town. It was first built in 1271. Like the chapel, it was also updated in the 18th century.

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  Façade of the sanctuary

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  The door of the sanctuary

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  The source of the three jets, next to the sanctuary

Tapis Village

Tapis from the road between Costoja and Maçanet de Cabrenys

Tapis is a small village that is part of the Maçanet de Cabrenys area. It was first mentioned in a document from the year 954. In 2005, about 25 people lived there.

Church of Sant Briç

The Church of Sant Briç was built around the late 12th or early 13th century. It has one main room. Two smaller rooms on the sides make it look like a cross. The rounded apse at the back has a special almond shape. It opens into the main room with a double arch. The way it is built, its size, and the style of the carvings on the entrance show it was built at the end of the Romanesque art period.

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  Church of Sant Briç

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  The bell tower

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  Inside the church

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  The door of the church

Mountains of Maçanet de Cabrenys

Maçanet de Cabrenys in winter

See also

In Spanish: Massanet de Cabrenys para niños