Vilafranca del Penedès facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vilafranca del Penedès
Municipality
Vilafranca del Penedès
Coat of arms
Location in Alt Penedès county
Vilafranca del Penedès Location in Catalonia Show map of Catalonia Vilafranca del Penedès Location in Spain Show map of Spain
Sovereign state	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Region	Penedès
County	Alt Penedès
Province	Barcelona
Area
• Total	19.6 km2 (7.6 sq mi)
Elevation	223 m (732 ft)
Population  (2018)
• Total	40,055
• Density	2,044/km2 (5,293/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Vilafranquí, vilafranquina
Climate	Csa

Vilafranca del Penedès, often called just Vilafranca, is an important town in Catalonia, Spain. It is the main town of the Alt Penedès area. The town is located in the Penedès Depression, near the Foix River.

Vilafranca is a key connection point for travel. It sits on the main route between big cities like Barcelona, Tarragona, and Valencia. You can reach it by train using the Rodalies Barcelona line 4. Major roads like the AP-7 autopista also pass through. Other roads connect it to nearby towns such as Sant Sadurní d'Anoia, Vilanova i la Geltrú, and Igualada.

History of Vilafranca

Vilafranca del Penedès was founded in the middle of the 12th century. It grew as the nearby town of Olèrdola became less important. In 1304, Vilafranca became the center of a local government area called a vegueria.

Important Meetings and Royal Visits

The town hosted important meetings called the Corts. These meetings happened in 1218 under King James I of Aragon. They were also held again in 1358–59 and in 1367. King Peter III of Aragon sadly passed away in 1285 while staying at the royal palace in Vilafranca.

Famous People from Vilafranca

Vilafranca is the birthplace of Raymond of Penyafort. He was a Catalonian Dominican friar born around 1175. St. Raymond was very important in creating the Decretals of Gregory IX. This was a major collection of church laws for the Roman Catholic Church. It was used until new laws were made in 1917 and 1983. He also helped start the Mercedarian Friars, a religious group.

What to See in Vilafranca

Vilafranca has many interesting places to visit, especially in its old town center.

Historic Buildings

• The Gothic church of Santa Maria is a beautiful old church.
• The royal palace, known as Palau Reial, is from the 13th century.
• The Palau Balta is another historic building.

Museums and Collections

The Palau Reial now houses the town museum. This museum has many different collections. You can see ancient objects in the archeology section. There are also paleontology exhibits with fossils. Other collections include ornithology (birds), ceramics, and sacred art.

Inside the Palau Reial, you will also find the Museum dedicated to Wine, called Vinseum. This museum celebrates the region's famous wine industry.

Other Notable Places

• The church of Sant Joan.
• The convent of Sant Francesc.
• Several old merchant houses, like the Palau del Fraret and Palau Macià.
• The Casal dels Gomà and the Casal del Marquès d'Alfarràs are also interesting old homes.

Vilafranca's Economy

Vilafranca is a very important center for the local wine industry. It works closely with the nearby town of Sant Sadurní d'Anoia.

Local Industries

Besides wine, other industries in Vilafranca include:

• Textiles (making fabrics and clothes).
• Metallurgy (working with metals).
• Food processing (preparing food products).
• Construction materials (making things used to build houses and other structures).

The town is also a busy commercial center where many goods are bought and sold.

Unique Local Fowl

Vilafranca is the original home of the Penedesenca fowl. These chickens are famous for laying eggs that are a unique chocolate color!

Population Growth

Vilafranca del Penedès has been growing steadily. More people are moving here from the countryside in Alt Penedès. This growth is helped by the town's excellent transport links. The strong local economy, especially the wine industry, also plays a big part.

Villages in the Municipality

The municipality of Vilafranca del Penedès includes four smaller villages. Here are their populations as of 2005:

• El Bordellet (9 people)
• El Molí d'en Rovira (166 people)
• Perepau (87 people)
• Les Salines (85 people)

Motor Racing History

Plaça de Jaume I (Vilafranca del Penedès)

Vilafranca del Penedès has a long and exciting history with motor racing in Catalonia. From 1908 to 1920, races were held on public roads. These races took place in areas like Sitges to Canyelles and Vilanova i la Geltrú. Other routes included Mataró to Vilassar de Mar and Argentona.

Penya Rhin Grand Prix

Between 1921 and 1923, the RMCC organized the Penya Rhin Grand Prix. This race used a 9-mile circuit around the town of Vilafranca del Penedès. Later, a special race track called the Sitges Terramar was built to replace it.

See also

In Spanish: Villafranca del Panadés para niños