- Priorat
Spanish comarca
comarca_name = Priorat
comarca_arms = Escut del Priorat.svg
location_
province = Tarragona
capital = Falset
largest_city = Falset
demonym = Prioratí, prioratina
population = 9196 (2001)
area = 496.2
pop_density = 18.5
municipalities =Bellmunt del Priorat |La Bisbal de Falset |Cabacés |Capçanes |Cornudella de Montsant |Falset|La Figuera |Gratallops |Els Guiamets |Lloar |Margalef |Marçà |El Masroig |Molar|Morera de Montsant |Poboleda |Porrera |Pradell de la Teixeta |La Torre de Fontaubella |Torroja del Priorat |Ulldemolins |La Vilella Alta |La Vilella Baixa Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia,
Spain . The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigiouswine of theDenominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated asMontsant . The area is also known for the production ofhazelnuts .Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.
Physical geography
Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River
Ebro , and by the comarques ofBaix Camp , les Garrigues, andConca de Barberà . The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by theMola de Colldejou and the mountain ranges ofLlebaria andSanta Marina .The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.
Municipalities
Populations are from 2001.
*
Bellmunt del Priorat - pop. 310
*La Bisbal de Falset - pop. 248
*Cabacés - pop. 343
*Capçanes - pop. 412
*Cornudella de Montsant - pop. 859
*Falset - pop. 2,471
*La Figuera - pop. 124
*Gratallops - pop. 224
*Els Guiamets - pop. 304
*Lloar - pop. 114
*Margalef - pop. 133
*Marçà - pop. 616
*El Masroig - pop. 519
*Molar - pop. 294
*Morera de Montsant - pop. 148
*Poboleda - pop. 347
*Porrera - pop. 462
*Pradell de la Teixeta - pop. 189
*La Torre de Fontaubella - pop. 133
*Torroja del Priorat - pop. 142
*Ulldemolins - pop. 495
*La Vilella Alta - pop. 132
*La Vilella Baixa - pop.177External links
* [http://www.priorat.org/ Official comarcal web site, in Catalan]
* [http://www.idescat.es/servlet/BasicTerr?TC=3&V0=2&V1=29&PDF=FALSE&VOK=Confirmar IDESCAT: statistical information about Priorat (in Catalan)]
* [http://www.espavino.com/spain_wine_region/wines_priorat.php The wine region DOCa Priorat]
* [http://www.spanien-katalonien.info/fotos%20landschaften/fot_priorat/fotos_priorat.html Photos Priorat]
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