Catalonia is (as of 2018) divided into 947 municipalities.
Each municipality typically represents one significant urban settlement, of any size from village to city, with its surrounding land. This is not always the case, though. Many municipalities have merged as a result of rural depopulation or simply for greater efficiency. Some large urban areas, for example Barcelona, consist of more than one municipality, each of which previously held a separate settlement. The Catalan government encourages mergers of very small municipalities; its "Report on the revision of Catalonia's territorial organisation model" (the "Roca Report "), published in 2000 but not yet implemented, recommends many such mergers. [1]
Larger municipalities may sometimes grant the status of decentralised municipal entity (Catalan : EMD, Spanish : EATIM) to one or more of its settlements, for more effective provision of services or to substitute for its previous status as a separate municipality. [2]
Each municipality is run by a council elected by the residents at periodic nationwide local elections. The council consists of a number of members depending on population, who elect the mayor (Spanish : alcalde, Catalan : batlle). The town hall (Catalan : ajuntament) is located in the main settlement, and deals with provision of local services and administrative matters such as registration of residents. The "main settlement" is not always the biggest settlement, as new urban developments such as tourist resorts can become very big very quickly without achieving any political recognition.
Boundaries between municipalities have their origins in ancient landholdings and transfers, and may often appear quite arbitrary and illogical, with exclaves common.
Catalonia's municipalities are (as of 1987 [3] ) grouped into 42 comarques (by the Catalan government) and four provinces (by the Spanish government). Occasional revisions of the boundaries of comarcas have resulted in municipalities moving from one comarca to another; see the list at Comarques of Catalonia.
This section needs to be updated.(February 2024) |
The official names in Catalan are the only legal ones (except in the Val d'Aran). Older texts may use Spanish forms or spellings.
The comarques of Catalonia, often referred to in English as counties, are an administrative division of Catalonia. Each comarca comprises a number of municipalities, roughly equivalent to a county in the United States. Currently, Catalonia is divided into 42 comarques and Aran, considered a "unique territorial entity" and not a comarca.
Baix Llobregat is a comarca (county) on the coast of Catalonia, Spain. It is located in the Barcelona region and its capital is Sant Feliu de Llobregat.
Alt Empordà is a comarca (county) located in the Girona region, in Catalonia, Spain. It is one of two comarques into which Empordà was divided by the comarca division of Catalonia in 1936, the other one being Baix Empordà. The capital is the municipality of Figueres.
Baix Empordà is a comarca (county) in the Girona region, Catalonia, in Spain. It is one of the two comarques into which Empordà was divided in the comarcal division of 1936, the other one being Alt Empordà. It is popularly known as L'Empordanet. The capital is La Bisbal d'Empordà.
Cerdanya is a comarca in northern Catalonia, in the Pyrenees, on the border of Catalonia with France and Andorra. Within Catalonia, Cerdanya is divided between Catalan provinces of Girona and Lleida. Cerdanya's neighbouring comarques are Alt Urgell, Berguedà, and Ripollès.
Garrigues is a comarca (county) in Ponent, Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is Les Borges Blanques. Its symbol is an olive branch, Garrigues being the center of olive cultivation in all of Catalonia.
Selva is a coastal comarca (county) in the Girona region of Catalonia (Spain), located between the mountain range known as the Serralada Transversal or Puigsacalm and the Costa Brava. Following the Spanish province system, it is divided between the provinces of Girona and Barcelona, with Fogars de la Selva being part of Barcelona province and all other municipalities falling inside the Girona province.
A vegueria, plural vegueries, is one of eight regional divisions of Catalonia, following the regional plan of Catalonia. Each vegueria is further divided into comarques and municipalities, with the exception of the Aran Valley, considered a "unique territorial entity".
Santa Coloma de Farners is a spa town and capital of the comarca of the Selva, in Catalonia, Spain, and of the judicial district of Santa Coloma. It is situated on the edge of the Selva Depression and of the Guilleries. The local economy is mainly commercial, given the status of the town as capital of the comarca, although summer tourism, agriculture and forestry products also contribute. The urban centre is to the north and west of the main modern communication routes, although the C-253 road links the town with the main N-II route and the AP-7 autopista and to the Renfe railway station at Sils (10 km). The GE-533 runs through the northern part of the municipality, linking it with Vic to the west and with Riudellots de la Selva, Vilobí d'Onyar and Girona-Costa Brava Airport to the east.
Castellbisbal is a municipality in the comarca of Vallès Occidental in Catalonia. It is situated on the left bank of the Llobregat river at its confluence with the Rubí river. The town is served by the A-7 autopista, the main N-II road and the Renfe railway line R4 between Barcelona and València.
Naut Aran is a municipality in eastern Aran, Catalonia. It had 1,923 inhabitants as of 2022. It is located in the terçons of Arties e Garòs and Pujòlo.
Alins [ˈa.linz] is a town and municipality in Pallars Sobirà county in Catalonia. It borders Occitania in France and La Massana in Andorra. In 2022, it had a population of 285.
Castellar de n'Hug is a municipality in the comarca of the Berguedà in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the southern slopes of the pyrenean range of the Creueta. The Llobregat river has its source on the territory of the municipality. The village is served by the B-403 road, which links it with La Pobla de Lillet and which continues over the Creueta to the comarques of the Ripollès and the Cerdanya.
Arbolí is a municipality in the comarca of the Baix Camp in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the west of the comarca in the Prades mountains. A local road links the village with the C-242 road.
La Molsosa is a municipality in the comarca of the Solsonès in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the south of the comarca in the Castelltallat range. It is linked to Calaf by a local road. The municipality is split into two parts, the bigger eastern part having nearly all the population. La Molsosa became part of the Solsonès in the comarcal revision of 1990: previously it formed part of the Anoia.
Montornès de Segarra is a municipality in the comarca of the Segarra in the Province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated in the west of the comarca and is served by the L-210 road. Montornès de Segarra became part of the Segarra in the comarcal revision of 1990: previously it formed part of the Urgell. The municipality contains two urban centres, Montornès de Segarra and Mas de Bondia.
Sant Quirze de Besora is a municipality in the comarca of Osona in Catalonia, Spain. It is situated on the banks of the Ter river in the north of the comarca. It is on the main communication route between Barcelona and Puigcerdà, served by the C-17 road and a station on the RENFE railway line. It is also linked to Prats de Lluçanès and the Berguedà by the C-149 road. There is a tradition of textile manufacture in the town, as well as a distillery and a hydroelectric power station.
Lluçanès is a comarca of Catalonia, in the central region, transitioning between the Plain of Vic and Berguedà, in the pre-Pyrenees. It was established as an official comarca in May 2023. The capital is the town of Prats de Lluçanès.
Moianès is a comarca in the central region of Catalonia, Spain. Its capital is the town of Moià.
Catalonia, referring to the autonomous community in Spain, is territorially divided into numerous types and levels of subdivisions with varying administrative, organisational and cultural functions.