Salou

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Salou
Monument to Jaume I
Monument to Jaume I
Flag of Salou
Coat of arms of Salou
Country Spain
Community Catalonia
ProvinceTarragona
ComarcaTarragonès
Municipality30 October 1989
Government
 • TypeMayor-council
 • BodyAjuntament de Salou
 • MayorPere Granados (FUPS)
Area
 • Total15.1 km2 (5.8 sq mi)
Elevation5 m (16 ft)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total27,016
 • Density1,800/km2 (4,600/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Salouean
salouenc, salouenca
salouense
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
43840
Area code+34 (Spain) 977 (Province)
Websitewww.salou.cat

Salou (Greek: Salauris) is a municipality of the comarca of Tarragonès, in the province of Tarragona, in Catalonia, Spain. The city is approximately 10km from Tarragona and Reus on the Costa Daurada and 112km from Barcelona. Aside from its string of beaches interrupted by rocky coves, and its landscaped promenade, one of its main attractions is the Port Aventura resort including the PortAventura Aquatic Park, formerly owned by the Universal Studios chain of theme parks. Salou is the tourist capital of the Costa Dorada, due to its many tourist facilities and its beautiful beaches; it is a popular holiday destination due to its Mediterranean climate. Salou use to have a permanent fairground at the end of the promenade with the ferris wheel as its major attraction. Salou is used as the base for the Catalunyan round of the World Rally Championship. Nearby is the suburb of Vilafortuny with secluded villas surrounded by walls. The TV show and the film called Costa! were located in Salou.

History

Used as a port by Greeks and Romans, it appeared again in an important historic event, when in 1229 the fleet of James I of Aragon departed from the port of Salou to conquer the Balearic islands, thus creating the Kingdom of Majorca and in 1286 Alfons III of Aragon also departed from this port to conquer Minorca, the last muslim territory of the Balearic Islands. Later, Salou became a nest of pirates. After that it was considered an unsafe place, so in 1530 Archbishop of Tarragona decided to erect a new defence tower, now called Torre Vella. In 1865 the railway station began to operate, opening a new development time, that led one hundred years later to a tourist boom that has brought prosperity to the town. Salou was segregated from Vila-seca on 30 October 1989 by a decision of the Supreme Court of Spain. It is considered the capital and most popular destination of the Costa Daurada.

Main Sites

Historic Buildings, Parks and Monuments

  • Santa Maria del Mar church
  • Torre Vella
  • Harbour Masters Office
  • Parc de Salou
  • Botanical Park
  • Monument Jaume I
  • Font lluminosa
  • Cybernetic Fountains
  • Monument to the fisherman
  • Old Carrilet "Railway Station"

Theme Park

PortAventura is a growing theme park resort on the Costa Dorada. The resort includes luxury four star accommodation, a major theme park, PortAventura Aquatic Park and convention centre. Some of the theme park's main attractions are the Dragon Khan, a massive B&M mega-looper, and The Hurricane Condor a tall falling tower ride which is 100 meters tall. The park also has a grand multi-media show, called the FiestaAventura, every night between the end of June and the end of August in which fireworks, fountains and parade-esque floats feature. The latest addition to the park is Furius Baco which is now the fastest roller coaster in Europe. Aquapolis water park is located in the neighbouring resort of La Pineda.

Beaches

The Salou Promenade (Passeig Jaume I) is one of the most beautiful landmarks of Salou, and it runs right along the coast adjacent to the Llevant Beach, the biggest beach in the town, although other beaches include Platja de Ponent, Platja dels Capellans, Platja Llarga and Cala Crancs. Salou has 34 Blue Flag beachs. Watersports such as bananna boats, pedaloes, windsurfing, boat trips can be arranged on the main beach called the Llevant Beach.

Golf Course

Lumine Golf Club, Salou (formerly known as PortAventura golf). There are three courses, which are north, south and central. North and central were designed by Greg Norman and the green project designed the south course. The facilities consist of two clubhouses, beach club, restaurants, pro shop, rental services and a golf school.

Theatre

In Salou there is a theatre called TAS. Teatre Auditori de Salou playing local events and famous acts such as Sergio Dalma.

Shopping

There is a vast array of souvenir and fashion stores in Salou but for more extensive shopping, Tarragona(15 mins) and Barcelona(1 hour 20 mins) are in driving distance. The closest shopping centre to Salou is in Vila-seca called Port Halley, which is approximately 5 minutes walk from PortAventura. The shopping centre includes a bowling alley, cinema, Mercadona supermarket, and other general stores such as Decathlon and restaurants. There is also a flea market in Salou's old town centre on Mondays.

Nightlife

The resort is predominantly catered for families therefore many bars such as The Rose & Crown, Champions and Robin Hood cater for them by including entertainment that is suitable for all. House of Illusion is an evening show including both dinner and complimentary drinks during the early showing or just complimentary drink in the late show featuring professional magicians, illusionists, hypnotists and cabaret dancers. The resort has many bars and clubs that cater for the 18-30 crowd for locals and tourists including Bus Stop, Kiss and Pacha in the neighbouring resort of La Pineda.

Saloufest

Saloufest is the University sports festival which takes place on two separate occasions in April on an annual basis. The festival is infamous for its wild nature as its widely reported throughout the local and British media for the students drunken behaviour. This year the festival has brought more than 5 million euros into the local economy. The festival includes DJ's and party's at the neighbouring resort's nightclub called Pacha.

Festivities

Logo of Salou
  • Wise Man's Cavalcade (January)
  • Cós Blanc (Winter festival, first weekend of February)
  • Children's Festival (June)
  • Fiesta de San Juan (Late June)
  • Nits Daurades (Summer festival, week of 15 August) with beautiful fireworks
  • Festa del Rei Jaume I (7 September)
  • National Day of Catalonia(11th September)
  • Fiesta de la Segregació (30 October)


Transport

Airport

Salou's closest airport is Reus (which it is connected to by a regular bus service) followed by Barcelona (1 hour by car or train). Reus Airport is one of over 40 Ryanair Operating Bases throughout Europe. The major charter airlines in Britain use Reus throughout the Summer. The airport mainly serves domestic and British destinations, but some airlines offer services to other European destinations and North Africa.

Public Transport

There is a bus company that serves the area called Plana Bus to destinations such as Cambrils, La Pineda, Port Aventura, Reus, Tarragona and Barcelona. There are also plenty of taxi services throughout the area.

Railway

The Railway Station in Salou is served by the Spanish state network, RENFE. The train stops at major stations throughout Catalonia including Barcelona.

Gallery

A beach in Salou


The Torre Vella defence tower, Salou
The Fountain in Salou
Salou Port



Sources

  • The Book of Deeds of James I of Aragon (available in PDF format)
  • Ramon Muntaner, Chronicle, tr. Lady Goodenough (available in PDF format).

External links