Sant Joan les Fonts facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sant Joan les Fonts
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Municipality
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 Sant Joan les Fonts
Location in Catalonia
Sant Joan les Fonts
Location in Spain
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Autonomous community |  Catalonia |
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| Province | Girona | |
| Comarca | Garrotxa | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 31.9 km2 (12.3 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 342 m (1,122 ft) | |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 2,966 | |
| • Density | 92.98/km2 (240.8/sq mi) | |
| Demonym(s) | Santjoanenc | |
Sant Joan les Fonts (Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsaɲ ʒuˈan ləs ˈfɔns]) is a town in northern Spain. It is located in the Garrotxa region of Catalonia, near the city of Girona. In 2014, about 2,919 people lived there. Before 1949, the town was known as Begudà.
Sant Joan les Fonts is also part of the Zona Volcànica de la Garrotxa Natural Park. This park is famous for its interesting volcanic landscapes.
Contents
About the Town
Sant Joan les Fonts is the second largest town in the Garrotxa region. It sits where important roads meet. These roads connect places like Girona, Olot, and Figueres. The Fluvià river flows through the town.
This river has been very important for the town's factories and businesses. Making things in factories is the main job sector here. Farming is also an important activity for the people of Sant Joan les Fonts.
Town History
The first part of Sant Joan les Fonts was built in the 800s. Big earthquakes in 1427 and 1428 destroyed most of the buildings. After this, people started to rebuild the area. However, a civil war in the 1400s made it hard for the town to grow.
In the 1600s, the town faced tough times. The War of the Spanish Succession made things even harder. The town did not grow much until the 1700s. At that time, new people moved in from nearby Olot.
Later, wars in the 1800s caused the population to shrink again. A serious illness called cholera in 1854 also caused many problems. In the 1900s, the town started to get better. This happened even with the Spanish Civil War in 1936.
Population Centers
Sant Joan les Fonts is made up of several smaller areas. Here are the main ones and how many people lived in them:
- Begudà: 248 people
- La Canya: 557 people
- El Pla de Baix: 39 people
- El Pla de Dalt: 54 people
- Sant Cosme: 100 people
- Sant Joan les Fonts (main town): 1,761 people
Places to See
There are many interesting places to visit in Sant Joan les Fonts:
Sant Joan les Fonts Monastery
The Monestir de Sant Joan les Fonts is a very old building. It is built in the Romanesque style. This means it has thick walls and round arches. It has been named a national monument.
Medieval Bridge
A medieval bridge crosses the Fluvià river. It is made from volcanic stone. This bridge connects the main part of the town to the church and the Castanyer neighborhood.
Serra de Vivers Fortress
A fortress is located on the Serra de Vivers hill. From this spot, you can see the whole Garrotxa area. You can see from Besalú all the way to the valleys of Olot and Bianya.
Canadell Tower
The Canadell Tower is a square building with four floors. It has narrow openings called "espitlleres" on all sides. These were used for defense. The tower also has a flat roof that was once surrounded by protective walls.
Juvinyà Estate
The Juvinyà estate is known as the oldest Romanesque civil building in Catalonia. It is a fortified manor house. It has two parts: a defensive tower and a main building. It was declared a provincial monument in 1972.
La Reformada Lava Flow
There is an area that is important for its history and geology. It is known for a lava flow. This lava flow formed part of an old lock called "la Reformada."
Local Holidays
The town celebrates several fun holidays throughout the year:
- The festival of San Isidro, in May
- The festival of Roser, on Easter Monday
- The main festival, on June 24
- The "pessebre vivent" (living nativity scenes), around Christmas
- Begudà celebrates the festival of Santa Eulàlia, and its main festival in the first weekend of August.
Twin Towns
Sant Joan les Fonts is twinned with:
Ydes, France
See also
In Spanish: San Juan de Fuentes para niños
