Molins de Rei (Catalan pronunciation: [muˈɫinz ðə ˈrej]) is a municipality locatit 18 km frae Barcelona's ceety centre, in the comarca o Baix Llobregat in Catalonie, Spain. It is situatit on the left bank o the Llobregat river, on the A-7 autopista frae Valencia tae La Jonquera and the main N-II road.

Molins de Rei
Castellciuró Castle.
Castellciuró Castle.
Coat of airms o Molins de Rei
Coat airms
Molins de Rei is located in Catalonie
Molins de Rei
Molins de Rei
Location in Catalonie
Coordinates: 41°24′50″N 2°00′57″E / 41.41389°N 2.01583°E / 41.41389; 2.01583
Kintra Spain
Commonty Catalonie
ProvinceBarcelona
ComarcaBaix Llobregat
Govrenment
 • MayorXavier Paz Penche
Area
 • Total15.91 km2 (6.14 sq mi)
Elevation
37 m (121 ft)
Population
 (2009)
 • Total24,067
 • Density1,500/km2 (3,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Molinenc
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
WebsiteOffeecial wabsteid

Its location haes made Molins de Rei a strategic an dynamic municipality, wi significant examples o commercial an industrial entrepreneurship.

History eedit

Its name, Molins de Rei (which means King's Mills), haes its oreegins in the ryal windmills that existit in this area, documentit as early as 1188. These mills wur biggit bi order o the King Alfonso II, an their construction essentially established the municipality. Bi 1208, a pairish an kirk as well as a cemetery haed been biggit in the toun.

In 1309, the toun wis pairt o the coonty o Pallars which belangit tae the coontess Sibil·la. When she dee'd, the toun changit awners tae Hugo de Arborea an later on, it wis transferred tae the convent o Santa Clara in Sardinie (Italy). Again in 1366, the land wur purchased bi Berenguer de Relat. In 1430, it wis again transferred tae Galceran de Requesens i de Santacoloma who biggit a palace in the veelage, visitit bi personalities o the time such as the Catholic Monarchs or Christopher Columbus.

In 1763 a brig wis biggit tae cross the Llobregat river, bi order o the King Charles III o Spain. This brig turned the veelage intae a strategic location durin the Peninsular War, an the toun wis subjectit tae grave attacks an fires in several occasions. Durin these attacks, several significant biggins wur destroyed, such as the Palace o Requesens.

Main sichts eedit

The Palace o Recasens, ruined bi a luitin durin the 19t hunderyear, dates frae the 15t hunderyear.

Ootside the toun are the ruins of the Castellciuró castle, biggit in 1066—aiblins ower a previous Visigoth fortification— an destroyed in 985 bi troops o al-Mansur Ibn Abi Aamir. Remains include a touer an pairts o the waws.

The Romanesque chapel o Sant Pere de Romaní, kent frae 1011, haes a rectangular shape, wi a barrel vaultit ceilin, an a bell touer.

Transportation eedit

The Molins de Rei train station is servit bi RENFE railwey lines R1 an R4 which run frequently tae an frae central Barcelona, takkin roughly 25 minutes tae an frae Plaça Catalunya.

Local buses connect the toun tae central Barcelona an aw an syne it is in the Barcelona metropolitan aurie, a tourist will be able tae fynd the distinctive yellae taxis in the square whaur the Avinguda de Barcelona an the Avinguda de València meet.

In addeetion, the toun is servit bi the C-1413 road tae Sabadell.

Twin touns eedit

References eedit

  • Panareda Clopés, Josep Maria; Rios Calvet, Jaume; Rabella Vives, Josep Maria (1989). Guia de Catalunya, Barcelona:Caixa de Catalunya. ISBN 84-87135-01-3 (Spanish). ISBN 84-87135-02-1 (Catalan).