Valls

For other uses, see Valls (disambiguation).

Valls
Municipality
Flag Coat of arms
Valls Location in Catalonia
Coordinates:
Country	Spain
Community	Catalonia
Province	Tarragona
Comarca	Alt Camp
Government
• Mayor	Albert Batet Canadell (2015)
Area
• Total	55.3 km2 (21.4 sq mi)
Elevation	215 m (705 ft)
Population (2014)
• Total	24,570
• Density	440/km2 (1,200/sq mi)
Demonym(s)	Vallenc
Website	valls.cat

Calçots eating competition in Valls-Concurs

Valls is the capital of the comarca of Alt Camp, in Catalonia, Spain. According to the 2014 census it has a population of 24,570.

Valls is known for its calçots – a type of scallion or green onion – and the human towers tradition known as the castells. The town is the birthplace of the composer Robert Gerhard (1896–1970).

Geography

Valls is a city and municipality in the province of Tarragona in Catalonia in northeastern Spain. It is the capital of the county of Alt Camp. With a population of 24,570 inhabitants in 2014, it represents more than half of the population of the county. It is located in the area known as Camp de Tarragona next to the River Francolí, near Reus (Baix Camp) and Tarragona (Tarragonès), the capital of the province.

Culture

Valls is known for its culinary tradition, the feasting on calçots at what is known as a "calçotada". The calçots are a large type of sweet-flavoured spring onion, barbecued over a pit of flaming vines, and eaten piping hot with romesco sauce in gloved hands. The calçotada continues with a main course of meats and sausages grilled over the same glowing coals, and is washed down with locally produced wines. The calçots are only available between December and May and draw diners from as far away as Barcelona. The calçot is grown locally and has a "PGI" (Protected Geographical Indication) status in the same way that champagne does.

Another cultural tradition of Valls is the practice of building "castells" at festivals, pyramids of people sometimes as much as twelve individuals high, with each layer being supported by the people below. This human tower tradition originated in the Ball dels Valencians in Valls, first recorded in 1712, and later spread to nearby towns such as Vilafranca del Penedès and Tarragona, and more recently, to other parts of Catalonia.

The composer Roberto Gerhard was born in Valls in 1896. He studied under Charles Koechlin in Paris and under Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna and Berlin before returning to Barcelona in 1928. During the Spanish Civil War he supported the Republican cause and was forced to flee the country in 1939, first to Paris and then to England where he spent the rest of his life. His works were virtually banned from performance in Spain under Francisco Franco. His output included symphonies, stage works, chamber music, choral music and electronic music.

Twin towns

• Andorra la Vella, Andorra
• Settimo Torinese, Italy
• Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire, France

References

• 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).

External links

• (Catalan)
• Information – Generalitat de Catalunya (Catalan)
• Statistical information – Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (Catalan)