Priorat

Priorat
—  Comarca  —
Coat of arms
Country	Spain
Autonomous community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Capital	Falset
Municipalities	List Bellmunt del Priorat, La Bisbal de Falset, Cabacés, Capçanes, Cornudella de Montsant, Falset, La Figuera, Gratallops, Els Guiamets, Lloar, Margalef, Marçà, El Masroig, Molar, Morera de Montsant, Poboleda, Porrera, Pradell de la Teixeta, Siurana, La Torre de Fontaubella, Torroja del Priorat, Ulldemolins, La Vilella Alta, La Vilella Baixa
Area
• Total	496.2 km2 (191.6 sq mi)
Population (2001)
• Total	9,196
• Density	18.5/km2 (48.0/sq mi)
Demonym	Prioratí, prioratina
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code
Largest municipality	Falset

For the Priorat wine region, see Priorat (DOQ).

Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.

Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.

Physical geography

Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River Ebro, and by the comarques of Baix Camp, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000 m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou and the mountain ranges of Serra de Llaberia and Serra de Santa Marina.

The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.

Municipalities

Populations (Idescat, 2010).

• Bellmunt del Priorat - pop. 350
• La Bisbal de Falset - pop. 237
• Cabacés - pop. 347
• Capçanes - pop. 431
• Cornudella de Montsant - pop. 1,028
• Falset - pop. 2,935
• La Figuera - pop. 135
• Gratallops - pop. 263
• Els Guiamets - pop. 329
• Lloar - pop. 124
• Margalef - pop. 115
• Marçà - pop. 653
• El Masroig - pop. 558
• El Molar - pop. 297
• Morera de Montsant - pop. 160
• Poboleda - pop. 382
• Porrera - pop. 482
• Pradell de la Teixeta - pop. 188
• La Torre de Fontaubella - pop. 147
• Torroja del Priorat - pop. 165
• Ulldemolins - pop. 470
• La Vilella Alta - pop. 136
• La Vilella Baixa - pop.213

External links

• Official comarcal web site, in Catalan

• IDESCAT: statistical information about Priorat (in Catalan)
• The wine region DOCa Priorat
• Photos Priorat