Sant Just Desvern facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Sant Just Desvern
Municipality
Parish church
Flag Coat of arms
Sant Just Desvern Location in Province of Barcelona Show map of Province of Barcelona Sant Just Desvern Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Barcelona
Comarca	Baix Llobregat
Area
• Total	7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi)
Elevation	122 m (400 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	17,494
• Density	2,243/km2 (5,810/sq mi)

Sant Just Desvern (Old Catalan for 'Saint Justin of-the-Buckthorn'; Catalan pronunciation: [ˈsaɲ ˈʒust dəzˈβɛɾn]) is a town located very close to Barcelona in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the Baix Llobregat area. The town sits about 122 meters (400 feet) above sea level. Its highest point is near Turó de Merlès at 405 meters, and the lowest is around 40 meters at Torreblanca park.

Sant Just Desvern covers an area of about 7.8 square kilometers (3 square miles). It has 35 kilometers (22 miles) of streets. The town is well connected by major roads like the N-340 and A-2 highway. It also connects to the Rondes de Dalt and Litoral, which are important ring roads around Barcelona.

Historically, in 1936, Sant Just Desvern was part of the Barcelonès region. However, in 1987, it became part of the Baix Llobregat region, along with Esplugues de Llobregat. The town shares its borders with Sant Joan Despí to the southwest, Esplugues de Llobregat to the east, and Sant Feliu de Llobregat to the northeast. Barcelona is almost right on its border.

The first time Sant Just Desvern was mentioned in a written document was in the year 965. Its coat of arms shows a blue bell on a golden diamond shape. The local city council uses the slogan pobleiciutat, which means "town and city." Many famous people live in Sant Just Desvern. These include players from the F.C. Barcelona football club and politicians like José Montilla, who used to be the president of Generalitat de Catalunya.

Population of Sant Just Desvern

This section shows how the number of people living in Sant Just Desvern has changed over the years.

In 2012, the town had a population of 15,874 people.

Interesting Places to See

Sant Just Desvern has several unique and historical places to visit.

Walden 7 Building

The town is home to Walden 7, a very famous apartment complex. It was designed by the architect Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura. This building is 16 stories tall and has a total area of 31,140 square meters. It contains 446 apartments where about a thousand people live. On the very top of the building, there are three swimming pools.

The Old Chimney and La Fábrica

Near Walden 7, you can find a tall concrete chimney. It was built in 1924 by engineer Clifford Tomlinson. At 105 meters (344 feet) high, it was once the tallest chimney in Europe. Today, it has been updated. At the top, there is a viewpoint called a mirador. You can reach it by an elevator with a transparent floor and ceiling. Below the viewpoint, there is a round restaurant with great views.

Next to the chimney is another part of the old cement factory. This building was turned into Ricardo Bofill's home and the offices for his architecture firm, Taller de Arquitectura. It is known as La Fábrica.

Church of Sant Just Desvern

The Church of Sant Just Desvern

The Church of Sant Just Desvern has been mentioned in documents since the year 987. The current church building was constructed in 1571. It was damaged during the Spanish Civil War and later rebuilt.

Ancient Farmhouses

Sant Just Desvern also has several old farmhouses that are considered important historical buildings. Some of these include:

• Can Campreciós (from 1326)
• Can Ginestar (from 1403)
• Can Segrera (from 1709)
• Can Cardona (from 1306)
• Can Solanes (from the 16th-17th centuries)
• Can Pedrosa (from 1077)
• Can Carbonell (from the 19th century)

Sant Just Desvern's Economy

The economy of Sant Just Desvern relies mainly on two areas: industry and services. Both of these sectors are highly specialized.

Important Industries

The most important industries in the town include:

• Chemical and pharmaceutical products
• Perfume manufacturing
• Machinery manufacturing
• Electrical equipment manufacturing
• Precision instruments

Key Services

For services, the main activities are:

• Machinery rental
• Wholesale trade
• Income distribution

The Weather in Sant Just Desvern

Sant Just Desvern has a Mediterranean climate. This means the weather is generally mild. Winters are warm, and summers can be very hot. The temperature in Sant Just Desvern rarely drops below zero degrees Celsius. It usually stays between 5 degrees and 30 degrees Celsius (41 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit).

Rain is not very common in Sant Just Desvern. It typically rains only 1 to 5 days each month. When it does rain, it's usually not very heavy. Most of the rainfall happens in autumn and spring. The town receives between 450 and 500 millimeters (17 to 20 inches) of rain each year.

Local Traditions

Sant Just Desvern has some fun and unique traditions.

Bearing Go Kart Race

Since 1976, the town has organized an annual "Bearing Go Kart Race" (called karts de coixinets). Participants build their own karts. Two people ride in each kart: a driver and a runner. Since the karts don't have engines, they race down a hill using gravity.

Giants and Dragons

Since 1980, Sant Just Desvern has had a group of "giants." These are large, traditional figures that are carried and danced during town festivals. The giants include:

• Pastor (3.6 meters tall, 38 kg)
• Justa (3.55 meters tall, 37 kg)
• Monserrat (2.1 meters tall, 11 kg)
• Gentil (3.90 meters tall, 60 kg)
• Flordeneu (3.7 meters tall, 31 kg)
• The giant of Canigó (belongs to the School Canigó)

Another group in Sant Just Desvern is called the Dragons, created in 2010. They are the main organizers of the town's fireworks displays. These fireworks are often on the street level, not in the sky. The "demons" (people dressed up) light special torches called ceptrot that create sparks. People then dance underneath the sparks. This type of street fireworks is common in many towns in Catalonia. The dragon figure also walks through the town during fireworks, dancing and throwing fire and sparks, often joining the "demons."

Cultural Centers

Sant Just Desvern offers several places for cultural activities.

Ateneu de Sant Just Desvern

Ateneu de Sant Just Desvern is a cultural group that started in 1918. They offer many activities, including:

• Painting
• Theater
• Writing
• Dancing
• Hiking
• Cinema

Casal de Joves

The Casal de Joves is another cultural group, but it is specifically for young people. This association organizes various workshops. It also has a public room with computers and different areas where young people can play games.

Education in Sant Just Desvern

Sant Just Desvern provides both public and private education options.

Public Education

For public education, the town has:

• A public kindergarten called "Marrecs."
• Three state schools for children aged 3 to 12 years: Monserrat, Canigó, and Montseny.
• A secondary school called "Institute of Sant Just Desvern."

The town does not have any universities.

Private Education

There are several private schools for different age groups:

• For ages 0-3: Noah's Ark, Children's Park, Tictac, Abc kínder Garden, School Pro, La Casita De Lore, Madre Sacrament.
• For ages 3-18: La Miranda, Princess Margaret School, School Palcam, School Mare de Déu of Núria.

Sports and Activities

Sant Just Desvern has various sports facilities and groups for different activities.

Sports Facilities

• La Bonaigua: This facility includes a gym and swimming pools. It is located on Pg. De la Muntanya.
• Can Melich: This facility offers a gym, tennis courts, paddle courts, swimming pools, and squash courts. It is located on Av. Once Septiembre.

Sports Clubs and Associations

• Futbol Club Sant Just Desvern: The town's football club.
• Hiking Associations: Secció Excursionista de l'Ateneu Sanjustenc (SEAS) and Els Isard.
• Hockey Club: A local hockey club.
• Cycling Club: A group for cycling enthusiasts.
• Sardana Dance Group: A group dedicated to the traditional Catalan sardana dance.

Important People from Sant Just Desvern

Many notable individuals have connections to Sant Just Desvern:

• Politics: Daniel Cardona i Civit, Antoni Malaret i Amigó, Ferran Mascarell i Canalda, Josep Maria Rañé.
• Architecture: Ricardo Bofill.
• Literature: Joan Margarit i Consarnau.
• Music: Lleonard Balada Ibañez, Puertas Brothers.
• Theater and Cinema: Clara Segura, Ferran Rañé i Blasco.
• Television: Àngel Casas, Carlos Latre.

Key Places to Visit

• Library Joan Margarit: You can find it at Street Carles Mercader, 17, 08960 Sant Just Desvern, Barcelona, Spain.
• City hall of Sant Just Desvern: Located at Plaça de Verdaguer, 2, 08960 Sant Just Desvern, Spain.

See also

In Spanish: San Justo Desvern para niños