Bellcaire d'Urgell

Bellcaire d'Urgell is a municipality in the La Noguera region. It comprises the villages of Bellcaire d'Urgell and El Pedrís. Bellcaire d'Urgell is irrigated by two canals: the Urgell Canal and the Sió Canal, whose construction fostered population growth and helped overcome the economic crisis affecting the area. A public fountain was also installed on Carrer Major in Bellcaire d'Urgell in 1885.

The origin of the name Bellcaire d'Urgell is not entirely clear, but it is believed to come from Arabic and may refer to a beautifully chosen place. Traditionally, the population of Bellcaire d'Urgell has been dedicated to the cultivation of vines and cereals. For this reason, we find a square that was formerly called Plaça del Sitjar, a place where these products were usually stored. Currently, this square is known as Plaça del Mercat (Market Square ). After the Spanish Civil War, the inhabitants of Bellcaire d'Urgell organized themselves and created an agricultural cooperative, later a textile cooperative, and shortly after, a school that would eventually become the Ermengol IV Institute of Bellcaire d'Urgell.

Among the most outstanding elements of Bellcaire d'Urgell's civil architecture are the town hall façade and its square, the boundary cross, and the monument commemorating the ninth centenary of the town's founding. As for religious architecture, the Church of Santa Maria, the Church of Sant Pere del Pedrís, and the bell tower that rises above the town are particularly noteworthy.

In Bellcaire d'Urgell, you'll also find a collection of traditional agricultural tools and an oil mill where oil has been produced since 1929. You can visit the mill to discover how the oil is produced and taste the product obtained during its processing.

History

Prehistory, Ancient History and Early Middle Ages

The archaeological remains discovered in the Sierra de Almenara and in El Pedrís demonstrate that Bellcaire d'Urgell was already inhabited during the Neolithic period and until the end of the Bronze Age.

Some hand mills from the Roman period have been preserved, although they could also be Visigothic. Between 716 and 719, Muslim rule began, lasting until the end of the 11th century. Place names and remains of irrigation systems and mills from this period still exist, demonstrating the presence of a settled population.

Reconquista, Late Middle Ages and repopulations

In 1090, Christian troops led by Count Ermengol IV likely recaptured Bellcaire d'Urgell. A year later, the restoration of the village and the construction of a church were commissioned. However, Muslim attacks hampered the permanent settlement of the population.

During the 12th century, several attempts at repopulation were made. In 1139, Ermengol VI ordered the construction of a fortress to protect the inhabitants. Later, Ermengol VII brought new settlers to the area and offered incentives to encourage families to settle there.

In 1183, Bellcaire came under the jurisdiction of the Bellpuig Monastery. At the end of the 13th century, the wars in the County of Urgell led to a significant population decline. Later, the territory was taken over by the Poblet Monastery, which facilitated the arrival of new families and helped stabilize the population.

Modern Age

At the beginning of the 15th century, after the death of Martin the Humane, Ferdinand of Trastámara came to power. In 1415, the inhabitants of Bellcaire swore allegiance to Joan Martínez de Mengucho, who had received dominion over some territories of the former County of Urgell.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the town endured difficult times due to epidemics, droughts, banditry, and wars. Furthermore, between 1687 and 1689, a plague of locusts severely damaged the fields and the local economy. For this reason, the inhabitants began making a pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Mare de Déu de les Sogues, a tradition that continued for many years.

Contemporary Era

During the Spanish War of Independence, the legend of the mayor of Bellcaire emerged, which tells how the mayor and two young men managed to expel some French soldiers who intended to plunder the town.

The Urgell Canal was completed in 1864, a project that helped improve agriculture and the economy of the municipality. However, it also caused problems at first, such as increased salinity in the fields and the emergence of diseases related to stagnant water.

At the beginning of the 20th century, phylloxera destroyed all the village's vineyards. In 1917, a public fountain was installed in the Plaça Major. After the Civil War, new houses, schools, and other municipal facilities were built, and an agricultural cooperative was also established.

From the 1950s onwards, many people moved to the cities because the mechanization of agriculture reduced the need for farm workers. However, the creation of the COIBESA textile cooperative in 1967 and the Centre d'Estudis Urgell in 1968, which later became the Ermengol IV Institute, helped to maintain the population. Thanks to these initiatives, Bellcaire d'Urgell reached almost 1,800 inhabitants, the highest figure in its history.