Vallfogona de Riucorb facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Vallfogona de Riucorb
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Municipality
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Vallfogona's castle and creu de terme (boundary cross)
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 Vallfogona de Riucorb
Location in Catalonia
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| Country |  Spain |
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| Community |  Catalonia |
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| Province |  Tarragona |
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| Comarca |  Conca de Barberà |
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| Area | |||
| • Total | 10.9 km2 (4.2 sq mi) | ||
| Elevation | 698 m (2,290 ft) | ||
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 85 | ||
| • Density | 7.80/km2 (20.20/sq mi) | ||
| Demonym(s) | Vallfogoní | ||
Vallfogona de Riucorb is a small village and municipality in central Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Conca de Barberà area. The village sits in the Comalats mountain range. The highest point nearby is Cap de Cans, which is 759 meters tall. Vallfogona village is built on the south bank of the Corb river.
The village is famous for its special mineral water spring. This water is believed to have healing properties. Vallfogona is also known for a famous priest and Baroque poet named Francesc Vicent Garcia. He lived from 1579 to 1623 and was known as "El Rector de Vallfogona." Garcia mostly wrote funny poems. He knew other important writers of his time, like Lope de Vega. In 1617, he arranged for the building of the Santa Bàrbara chapel.
History of Vallfogona
The first time Vallfogona was mentioned in history was in 1123. This was after the area was taken back from the Moors. The Moors had called the place Vall d'Alfes. The town belonged to the noble family of the Counts of Queralt.
Around 1150, a local lord named Gombau d'Oluja took control of Vallfogona. He brought Christian Catalans to live there. He planned the town, built a small castle, and started building the town's Romanesque church. Both the castle and the church are still standing today. When Gombau died in 1191, he gave Vallfogona to the Knights Templar.
Later, in 1312, the Knights Templar group was closed down. Vallfogona then came under the control of the Knights Hospitaller. In 1416, the Hospitallers rebuilt much of the church and castle.
Vallfogona's first place for tourists, the Fonda Dolores, opened in 1870. It served people who came to visit the spring and its special waters.
During the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), the hotels at the spa became a hospital. They cared for soldiers who were hurt. About 100 people who died were buried in a large grave in the cemetery. Eleven soldiers from Vallfogona died in the war. After the war, some people from Vallfogona were put in prison. Others had to leave and go to France. Vallfogona lost almost 20% of its people during this time.
In 1990, Vallfogona de Riucorb became part of the Conca de Barberà area. Before that, it was part of the Segarra area.
On July 10, 2010, a newly fixed statue of Saint Peter "dels Vigues" was shown. This Romanesque statue had been pulled down from the church roof during the Spanish Civil War. It was broken into pieces. The fixed statue is now inside the church. A copy was made and placed where the original statue used to be on the roof.
Economy and Local Life
Vallfogona's economy mostly relies on farming and tourism. The area is part of the Costers del Segre wine region. Farmers also grow olives, almonds, wheat, and barley.
In the early 1900s, a spa-hotel complex was built. This was to use the special spring water and bring in visitors. Today, Vallfogona has two hotels and a restaurant. It also has a nice public swimming pool and bar that is open in the summer. This is popular with local people. The forests south and southeast of Vallfogona have mostly pine and oak trees.
Getting Around Vallfogona
The village is connected to Guimerà and Santa Coloma de Queralt by the L-241/T-241/T-224 road. There is a bus service that runs twice a day between Barcelona and Guimerà. There is also a daily bus service between Vallfogona and Tàrrega.
See also
In Spanish: Vallfogona de Riucorb para niños
