La Figuera

The municipality of La Figuera, in the Priorat region, is nestled in the foothills of the western Montsant mountain range, on the right bank of the river of the same name. The village of La Figuera, at an altitude of 575 meters, enjoys a high vantage point offering breathtaking panoramic views. It is known as the sentinel of the Priorat.

Another point of interest within the area is the Colls de Solans, not far from the village, which offers a unique view of the entire region. It is known as the "balcony of Priorat."

The population is agricultural. The main crops grown are wine and olive oil. The Cooperative was founded as an Agricultural Union in 1932.

Due to its climatic conditions, the vineyards in the area are almost entirely planted with the Garnacha variety, which produces exquisite, smooth wines with a distinctive flavor. These wines have the Montsant designation of origin.

The oil has a Siurana designation of origin.

Thanks to its privileged location and climate, La Figuera has become an ideal place for summer holidays and second homes. This means that during the summers and weekends, the village regains the activity and vitality it had lost in previous years.

More than talking about remarkable buildings, when it comes to La Figuera, its surroundings stand out, the natural viewpoints that allow you to admire magnificent landscapes and the corners and places that make this small town a place worth visiting.

As Joan Asens says in the Priorat Guide: "If great connoisseurs of Catalonia have said that Priorat is one of the most beautiful regions of the Principality, it is not unreasonable to say that in La Figuera one can contemplate one of the most beautiful panoramas in our land."

History

Legend has it that where the town now stands, there once grew an immense fig tree, so large that the Romans sheltered their flocks beneath it. Later, a castle was built on the same spot, and this fig tree was preserved in its courtyard. Today, along the street by the wall, one can still see clear remnants of fortified walls. It seems the town has retained its name from that vanished castle and that great fig tree.

The first historical record of La Higuera is found in the donation made by Albert de Castellvell to the church of Tortosa. In this donation, it is referred to as the mountain of Gibolhoder.

Gibolhoder, or La Figuera, was not settled until some years after its incorporation into the lands of Tortosa. Its charter dates from December 5, 1182, three years before that of Cabacés. It is, therefore, one of the oldest charters of settlement in New Catalonia.

At that time, it was granted an extensive territory that bordered the Montsant River with Mas d'en Bas, the old village of Molar, and with Ascó and Cabacés.

Shortly afterwards, La Figuera was incorporated into the Barony of Cabacés, as can be seen in the "Book of Ordinances of the Town of La Figuera," a book of customs and traditions that regulated the town's way of life. Begun in 1310, it was completed in 1734.

The Hermitage of Sant Pau

One of the best places to appreciate the vastness of the landscape is the hermitage of Sant Pau, located about two and a half kilometers northwest of the town. The hermitage houses the venerated Virgin of La Mola, who is greatly revered by the neighboring villages.

About 500 meters west of the hermitage, towards the mountain peak, you can visit what was the command post of the Republican army during the Battle of the Ebro. From this privileged vantage point, you can see up to 40 kilometers of the Ebro River.

"Balcony of Priorat"

Other interesting places are the Coll de Solans, called "balcony of Priorat", and the Guixar mountain range, or Escambellet.

We cannot forget either the Roca Foradada, nor the caves of Vasques, the Tres Ajos, and the Mas d'en Nenet, natural caves made in the rock, of great size.

The village, with its narrow, steep streets, retains the typical character of the villages in the Priorat region. The parish church is dedicated to Saint Martin.