Batea

Batea is a municipality located in the region of Terra Alta and border with Aragon. Within his term also find Pinyeres peoples and Algars and several hamlets.

Its very rich historical past as from prehistoric remarkable items found. In this regard include the town of Moro's Borrasquer, but we must not forget the of Pinyeres and Algars.

In this territory the Iberians also made their mark, both new utensils used as funerary architecture and ceramic art. Moreover, the Romans brought prosperity to trade and communication routes. And, Arabs, left traces of pottery and buildings such as the Castle Algars and Batea.

The medieval past was evident in the population of Batea and, indeed, its streets, arcades and arches have become a unique and authentic setting for the celebration of the Medieval Market, which takes place the first weekend of July.

Over the years, the population grows and does outside the walls. And we arrived to the period of industrialization, Batea enters the sulfur industry, which produces alcohol and neglects olive cultivation. Still, maintaining dedication to the vineyards and wineries are appearing new.

During the first quarter of the twentieth century, the population of Batea and other surrounding suffer severe water crisis. Rainfall in Terra Alta are not abundant and in that period was so severe drought that caused the emigration of a large part of the population and even having to carry water with cisterns to supply the inhabitants.

Thus, the population decreased but still noteworthy is the number of businesses in the town. On the one hand, who were dedicated to fascinate the distillation of spirits, on the other, opening cafes in the town as well as the construction of mills and ice wells.

Of all the past of Batea, today visited vestiges which include St. Michael's Church, built in the eighteenth century, the old town or "vila closa" which houses doorways, porches and Gothic arches, Calvary, located in a sum and which affords a good view of the population and its environment, the Renaissance towers of St. Martin and Castilian, the ancient village of Pinyeres where the church of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the castle, church and ancient village of Algars, the Cruz del Valle located in the middle of the "Way of St. James of the Ebro" that goes from Tortosa to Santiago de Compostela and, finally Llavar source that was used to supply water to the population, are showing their laundries .