Santa Coloma de Farners facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Santa Coloma de Farners
Municipality
Parish church
Flag Coat of arms
Santa Coloma de Farners Location in Catalonia Show map of Catalonia Santa Coloma de Farners Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Girona
Comarca	Selva
Area
• Total	70.6 km2 (27.3 sq mi)
Elevation	142 m (466 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	12,894
• Density	182.63/km2 (473.0/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	colomenc, colomenca
Climate	Cfa

Santa Coloma de Farners is a lovely spa town in Catalonia, Spain. It is the main town of the Selva region. It's also the center for legal matters in its area.

The town sits near the edge of the Selva Depression and the Guilleries mountains. Its economy mainly relies on trade because it's the capital of the region. Tourism in summer, farming, and products from the forests also help the local economy.

The town center is away from the main roads. However, a road called C-253 connects it to bigger routes like N-II and the AP-7 motorway. It also links to the train station at Sils, which is about 10 kilometers away. Another road, GE-533, goes through the northern part of the town. This road connects Santa Coloma to Vic in the west. It also links to Riudellots de la Selva, Vilobí d'Onyar, and the Girona-Costa Brava Airport in the east.

A Glimpse into Santa Coloma's Past

Santa Coloma de Farners has a long history. It was first mentioned in records around the year 898. That's when its church was first written about.

The town faced a tough time in 942. It was destroyed during a Hungarian invasion. But the people rebuilt it quickly, and by 950, it was standing again.

During the Middle Ages, the church in Santa Coloma was controlled by the Monastery of Sant Pere Cercada. The town's civil matters were managed by Farners Castle.

In 1334, King Peter IV of Aragon gave the town permission to hold a market. This helped the town grow. Later, in the 15th century, Santa Coloma became an independent area called a feudal barony. The powerful Vilademany family was in charge of it.

Exploring Santa Coloma's Landmarks

Santa Coloma de Farners has several interesting places to visit.

• The Church of Santa Coloma is a beautiful Gothic building. The church you see today was built in the 14th century.
• Plaça de Farners is a central square in the town.
• The Thermal Baths of Orion (Balneari Termes-Orion) are famous hot springs. People come here to relax and enjoy the healing waters.

Outside the main town, there are more historical sites.

• Farners Castle is a 12th-century castle. It's about six kilometers west of the town center.
• Near the castle is the Santuari de la Mare de Déu de Farners. This is a sanctuary that holds a special statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus.
• The Monastery of Sant Pere Cercada is even further out, about three kilometers past the castle. It's built in the Roman-style and is very old.

Santa Coloma and Its Forests

Santa Coloma has always been important for forests. It's an area where many trees are grown. It also plays a big role in how forests are managed in the region.

The town is home to the Catalan Forestry House. This is a special place where many important groups related to forests share offices.

• The Consorci Forestal de Catalunya is one of the oldest farming groups in Catalonia. They look after the interests of private forest owners.
• The Fundació Boscos is a private group that teaches people about the cultural and educational value of forests.
• ARCMED is a group of foresters from Mediterranean countries. They represent over 600,000 forest owners from seven countries in Brussels.
• The Forest Sciences Centre of Catalonia (CTFC) is the main research center for forests in Catalonia. They study how to keep forests healthy and productive.

Population Changes Over Time

The number of people living in Santa Coloma de Farners has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population at different times:

See also

You can read more about Santa Coloma de Farners for kids in Spanish here: Santa Coloma de Farnés para niños