La Quar Explained

La Quar
Settlement Type:Municipality
Mapsize:200px
Pushpin Map:Spain Province of Barcelona#Spain
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Catalonia
Coordinates:42.1069°N 1.9817°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name: Spain
Subdivision Type1:Community
Subdivision Type2:Province
Subdivision Name2:Barcelona
Subdivision Type3:Comarca
Subdivision Name3:Berguedà
Leader Party:CiU
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Antonio Franch Cid (2015)[1]
Area Footnotes:[2]
Area Total Km2:38.2
Elevation M:885
Population Density Km2:auto
Population Demonym:Quartenc
Postal Code:08619

La Quar (in Catalan; Valencian pronounced as /lə ˈkwaɾ/; in Catalan; Valencian pronounced as /lə ˈkɔɾ/) is a small town and municipality located in the comarca of Berguedà, in Catalonia. The area is characterized by its isolated farmhouses and a few small settlements. Historically, the traditional center of La Quar was Santa Maria de la Quar, situated on a defensible rocky outcropping. However, this site no longer has permanent residents, and the center of the municipality has shifted to Sant Maurici de la Quar, located on the main road.

Geography

La Quar is nestled in the foothills of the Pyrenees, surrounded by peaks around 1000 meters high to the north and west. Despite its proximity to the town of Berga, La Quar can only be accessed from the south, which contributes to its relative isolation.

History

Within the municipality lies the ruins of the Monastery of La Portella This monastery once held significant power, making La Quar important despite its small population. The town was also the seat of the influential noble family of La Portella. The first recorded mention of the Monastery of La Portella dates back to 1003, and it was eventually abandoned in 1835. During the Carlist Wars, the Carlist authorities moved the University of Solsona to the abandoned monastery for defensive purposes.

At some point a Romanesque sculpture of Virgin and Child, known as the Mare de Déu de la Quar was discovered in the municipality. The Virgin was believed to have healing properties, making La Quar a local pilgrimage site. Today, the sculpture is kept in the church of Sant Maurici, along with numerous crutches and wax representations of limbs left by those who claimed to have been healed by her.

The church of Santa Maria de la Quar was consecrated by Bishop Nantigis of La Seu d'Urgell in 899–900,[3] and the building was extensively refurbished in the 16th century, a time of great endowment for many church buildings as Spain's expanding empire bought great wealth to the area.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ajuntament de la Quar. Generalitat of Catalonia. 2015-11-13.
  2. Web site: El municipi en xifres: La Quar. Statistical Institute of Catalonia. 2015-11-23.
  3. http://invarquit.cultura.gencat.cat/Cerca/Fitxa?index=0&consulta=&codi=3528 Santa Maria de la Quar