Cambrils

Cambrils
Municipality
Cambrils as seen from the sea
Flag Coat of arms
Cambrils Location in Catalonia Cambrils Cambrils (Catalonia) Cambrils Cambrils (Spain)
Coordinates:41°04′00″N1°03′30″E
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Comarca	Baix Camp
Government
•Mayor	Camí Mendoza Mercè (2015)
Area
• Total	35.2 km2(13.6 sq mi)
Elevation	18 m (59 ft)
Population (2018)
• Total	33,362
• Density	950/km2(2,500/sq mi)
Demonym	Cambrilenc
Website	www.cambrils.cat

Cambrils(Catalan pronunciation:[kəmˈbɾils]) is a coastal town in thecomarcaofBaix Camp,province of Tarragona,Catalonia,Spain. The town is near the tourist townSalouand is frequently visited by those travelling by air usingReus Airport.

History

Port.

Pi Rodópine beside a beach.

Roman empire to Middle Ages

The town of Cambrils can trace its origins back toprehistorictimes, although it was not until theRomanperiod that the present town of Cambrils began to grow. This is evident from the archaeological sites found throughout the municipality, such as the RomanvillaofLa Llosa,strategically located alongside theVia Augustaand not far from the Roman capital ofTarraco.

By themediaevalperiod, there was already a permanent settlement on the right bank of theAlforja Torrent.From 1152, thekingdom of Aragon,having driven theMoorsout of Catalonia, granted a series of privileges to encourage the repopulation of the place known as Cambrils. It was in the12th centurythat the foundations were laid for the establishment of a stable population centre here at the southern gateway to theCamp de Tarragona,well connected toEl Camino Real(the Royal Road) that linkedTortosaand Tarragona. The area also had good maritime connections; indeed, the troops ofJaume Isailed from these beaches in 1229 to re-conquerMajorcafrom theMoors.

Due to this strategic position, the Crown kept title over the town by establishing afeudallord—vassal to the king-count—and a detachment of soldiers here. In addition, they built defensive walls and towers that also served to protect other nearby villages such asEls Tegells,Les PlanesandMontbrió.This royal initiative lead to the development of the present-day Old Town, with a church, hostel, hermitage, hospital, convent, market, fair, artisans, and, above all, farmers who worked the rich lands surrounding Cambrils.

However, the vitality of the community was severely disrupted in December 1640 when the town of Cambrils was the site of one of the episodes of theReapers' War(Guerra dels Segadors) that brought Catalonia into conflict with KingPhilip IV of Spain.Faced with a far superior army, the population of Cambrils withstood a siege that lasted three days, before they finally capitulated. Contrary to the agreed terms of surrender, the occupying troops killed a large number of the defenders and destroyed most of the town walls. This is one of the most important events in the town's history and it is commemorated every year by a ceremony held in thePlaça del Setge(Siege Square), in front of the ruins of the walls.

From the 18th century the population began to increase, as can be seen from the establishment of workers' neighbourhoods outside the walled area. At the same time, the coastal area, now the port quarter of Cambrils, was also occupied, thanks to the construction of the Port or Moors' Tower. For centuries living on the seashore had been fraught with danger, due to constantpirateattacks. Fishermen and others who did not have time to flee to the shelter of the walled town were often killed or kidnapped. Other small mediaeval villages such asMas d'en Bisbe,VilagrassaandVilafortuny,the latter of which had its own castle and church, also suffered the ravages of the pirates, which impeded the growth of their populations, a situation that did not change until they were annexed to the municipality of Cambrils in the 19th century. Over time, and with the danger largely a thing of the past, the families of fishermen and seafarers began to build their houses around the Port or Moors' Tower, thus founding the quarter that, a century later, would see the construction of the harbour, which was finished in the mid 20th century and is now the best known symbol of Cambrils.

In addition to the production of flour in the town's numerouswater-driven mills,from the 19th century on small industries began to develop. These includedliqueurproducers,brickandbuilding materialfactories, and boatyards building increasingly large vessels. The opening of therailwayin 1867 gave a considerable boost to the town's commerce, agriculture and fishing, despite a series of wars, epidemics, and meteorological disasters suffered during the 19th century. The 20th century brought with it the beginning of an increase in population that would be multiplied in the 1950s with the arrival of various waves of immigration from other parts of Spain.

At the beginning of the 1960s the potential oftourismto the town was realized and began to be exploited. Large estates were built to house these new arrivals, who mainly came to enjoy theMediterraneansun, beach and cuisine.

At dawn on August 18, 2017, an Audi A-3 with five terrorists drove into the crowd that was walking along the Cambrils seafront. Subsequently, the car overturned, the terrorists got out and began stabbing passersby. The five terrorists were killed by theMossos d'Esquadra,leaving one woman dead in their wake and six other people injured, three of them police officers. Later it became apparent that the cell killed in Cambrils had a connection with theattack the day beforein Las Ramblas in Barcelona.

Economy

The city, along with the rest of the region around Tarragona, has enjoyed very rapid development over the last two decades. The town's fishing and agriculture background is being replaced by such emerging industries as chemical, petrochemical, services and tourism. These, in turn, have spurred large-scale development, leading to major investments in infrastructure and an increased standard of living. Today, most of the tourists to this area are Spaniards, who have their summer house at this fishing village with high quality beaches.

The Agriculture Cooperative of Cambrils was founded at 1902. Nowadays it is the agriculture and food industry reference around Camp de Tarragona. The local farmers produce fruits, vegetables, and arbequina olives, from which is made the well-known Extra Virgin Olive Oil PDO Siurana. This product has been awarded as Best Olive Oil of Spain in Fruity Category by the Agriculture Ministry of Spain and Best Olive Oil Mill of Spain (2005–2006) awarded by the Spanish Association of Municipalities of the Olive Tree (AEMO).

Tourism

Sights

The main sights are:

• Molí de les Tres Eres – The main building of the Cambrils Museum of History.
• Museu Agrícola de Cambrils – Agricultural museum of Cambrils
• Torre de l'Ermita – Chapel Tower
• Torre del Port – Port Tower
• Ermita de la Mare de Déu del Camí – Chapel
• El Parc del Pescador – Fisherman's park
• El Parc del Pinaret – The newest and largest park.

Beaches

The beaches are:

• Eastern beaches:
  • Cap de St. Pere
  • Vilafortuny
  • Esquirol
  • The Cavet
  • Prat d'en Forés – Regueral
• Western beaches:
  • La Riera
  • Horta de Sta. Maria
  • La Llosa
  • L'Ardiaca

Note:

Hiking

TheGR 92long distance footpath, which roughly follows the length of the Mediterranean coast of Spain, has a staging point at Cambrils. Stage 26 links northwards toTarragona,a distance of 28.1 kilometres (17.5 mi), whilst stage 27 links southwards toL'Hospitalet de l'Infant,a distance of 16.3 kilometres (10.1 mi).

Notable people

• Francisco Vidal(1868–1943), cardinal, Archbishop of Tarragona

See also

• 2017 Barcelona attacks

References

• Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989).Guia de Catalunya,Barcelona: Caixa de Catalunya.ISBN84-87135-01-3(Spanish).ISBN84-87135-02-1(Catalan).

External links

• Official site(in Catalan)
• Government data pages(in Catalan)