Ripoll facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ripoll
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Municipality
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 Ripoll
Location in Province of Girona
Ripoll
Location in Catalonia
Ripoll
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Community |  Catalonia |
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| Province | Girona | ||
| Comarca | Ripollès | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 73.7 km2 (28.5 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 691 m (2,267 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 10,632 | ||
| • Density | 144.26/km2 (373.63/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Ripollès | ||
| Climate | Cfb | ||
Ripoll (Catalan pronunciation: [riˈpoʎ]) is a town in Catalonia, Spain. It is the main town of the Ripollès area, which is called a comarca. Ripoll is located in the province of Girona.
The town sits where two rivers, the Ter and the Freser, meet. It is also very close to the Pyrenees mountains and the border with France. In 2018, about 10,632 people lived in Ripoll.
Contents
A Look at Ripoll's Past
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People have lived in the Ripoll area for a very long time. The oldest signs of humans are from the Bronze Age. You can still see ancient stone structures called dolmens, like those found in places named El Sot de Dones Mortes or Pardinella. These dolmens are like ancient tombs or monuments made of large stones.
Later, people used this area to store bronze weapons and as a path through the mountains. We also know that people from the Roman Empire and the Visigoths (an ancient Germanic people) were buried here.
The Famous Monastery
A very important building in Ripoll is the Monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll. It is a Benedictine monastery, which means it was built for monks who follow the rules of Saint Benedict. The monastery was built in a style called Romanesque, known for its thick walls and round arches.
Count Wilfred the Hairy founded this monastery in the year 879. He used it as a way to help people move into and settle the region after he had taken control of it. During the Middle Ages, a castle called Castle of Saguardia was also in the area. A famous poet and musician named Ponç de la Guàrdia lived there.
Ripoll's Industry and Challenges
Ripoll had a lot of coal and iron ore, which are important minerals. It also had plenty of water from the Ter and Freser rivers. This made it a great place for metalworking, even in the early Middle Ages. The furnaces in Ripoll were famous for making nails.
Over time, Ripoll also started making weapons like pole arms and crossbows. The town became well-known across Europe for making firearms. However, this success also brought problems. French armies invaded Ripoll many times between 1794 and 1813, which hurt the town's industries.
The biggest disaster happened in 1839 during the Carlist Wars. The town was largely destroyed by mines and explosions. Because of this, many old records and archives were lost. This means we don't know as much about Ripoll's early history and industries as we might otherwise.
Notable People from Ripoll
- Eudald Domènech i Riera
