| Tourist Info > Catalan Culture |
|
Here are the most read articles in this section:-
- A Catalan language lesson
Useful Phrases in Catalan Whilst many believe the Catalan language to be of Spanish origin, it actually developed independently out of Vulgar Latin spoken by the Romans who colonised the Tarragona area. Spoken on both sides of the eastern end of the Pyrenees, it is also spoken in the (...) read more...
- A load of bull!
A Load of Bull Personally, you wouldn’t get me within a mile of a bullring - I find the whole idea completely obnoxious. However, the corrida is an important part of the Spanish and Catalan culture so if you are going to go to a fight, you might as well understand what (...) read more...
- Catalan heritage
Origins of the Catalan language I was surprised to discover that there are approximately ten million catalan speakers in Catalonia, Valencia, Andora, USA, Alghero (Sardinia) and the Balearics. The Catalan language is a Latin language, very much a language in its own right, although based (...) read more...
- Catalan artists - Antoni Tapies
Antoni Tàpies Born in Barcelona in 1923, painter, draughtsman, printmaker and sculptor, Tàpies is credited with introducing contemporary abstract painting into Spain. He is considered one of the great master artists of the 20th century and is perhaps the best-known Catalan artist to emerge (...) read more...
- What’s in a name?
A potted history of the naming of some of the region’s towns and villages What’s in a name? It is only by knowing a little about the history of the region that we can appreciate where many of the towns and villages of the Pyrénées Orientales got their names. Architectural digs (...) read more...
- Symbolic connection. The donkey of the Pyrénées
Symbolic connection The donkey of the Pyrénées by Michael Brady It is difficult not to note that the donkey ranks high among the animals of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Racks of post cards usually have some cards of donkeys against scenic backdrops. There are stickers of donkeys in (...) read more...
- Catalan Christmas: The Caganer
El Caganer The traditional Christmas nativity scene or ‘pessebre’, is still very much alive and kicking in Catalonia… but what every Catalan child is really looking for is that bare bottomed bounder, the ‘caganer’. A popular and much loved Catalan (...) read more...