Cambrils is a coastal town in the comarca of Baix Camp, Tarragona province of Catalonia, Spain.

History

Roman empire to Middle Ages

The town of Cambrils can trace its origins back to prehistoric times, although it was not until the Roman period that the population of the Cambrils we know today began to grow. This is evident from the archaeological sites found throughout the municipality, such as the Roman villa of La Llosa, strategically located alongside the Via Augusta and not far from the Roman capital of Tarraco. Today you can learn about its history, from its earliest times until the end of the Roman period, in the Molí de les Tres Eres, the main building of the Cambrils Museum of History.

By the mediaeval period there was already a permanent settlement on the right bank of the Alforja Torrent. From 1152 the kingdom of Catalonia and Aragon, having driven the Moors out of Catalonia Nova, granted a series of privileges to encourage the repopulation of the place known as Cambrils. It was in the 12th century that the foundations were laid for the establishment of a stable population centre here at the southern gateway to the Camp de Tarragona, well connected to El Camino Real (the Royal Road) that linked Tortosa and Tarragona. The area also had good maritime connections, as can be seen from the fact that the troops of Jaume I sailed from these beaches in 1229 to re-conquer Majorca from the Moors.

Due to this strategic position, the Crown kept title over the town by establishing a feudal lord—vassal to the king-count—and a detachment of soldiers here. In addition, they built the defensive walls and towers that also served to protect other nearby villages such as Els Tegells, Les Planes and Montbrió. This royal initiative lead to the development of the present-day Old Town, with a church, hostel, hermitage, hospital, convent, market, fair, artisans, and, above all, farmers who worked the rich lands that still surround Cambrils today.

Post Middle Ages

However, the vitality of the community was severely disrupted in December 1640 when the town of Cambrils was the site of one of the episodes of the Guerra dels Segadors (War of the Reapers) that brought Catalonia into conflict with King Felipe IV. Faced with a far superior army, the population of Cambrils withstood a terrible siege that lasted three days, before they finally capitulated. Contrary to the agreed terms of surrender, the occupying troops killed a large number of the defenders and destroyed most of the town walls. This is one of the most important events in the town’s history and it is commemorated every year by a ceremony held in the Plaça del Setge, in front of the ruins of the walls.

From the 18th century the population began to increase, as can be seen from the establishment of workers’ neighbourhoods outside the walled area. At the same time, the coastal area, now the port quarter of Cambrils, began to be occupied, thanks to the construction of the Port or Moors’ Tower. For centuries living on the seashore had been fraught with danger, due to the constant pirate attacks. Fishermen and others who did not have time to flee to the shelter of the walled town were often killed or kidnapped. Other small mediaeval villages such as Mas d’en Bisbe, Vilagrassa and Vilafortuny, the latter of which had its own castle and church, also suffered the ravages of the pirates, which impeded the growth of their populations, a situation that did not change until they were annexed to the municipality of Cambrils in the 19th century. Over time, and with the danger largely a thing of the past, the families of fishermen and seafarers began to build their houses in the surroundings of the Port or Moors’ Tower, thus founding the quarter that, a century later, would see the construction of the harbour, which was finished in the mid 20th century and is now the best known symbol of Cambrils.

In addition to the production of flour in the town’s numerous water-driven mills, from the 19th century on small industries began to develop. These included liqueur producers, brick and building material factories, and boatyards building increasingly large vessels. The opening of the railway in 1867 gave a considerable boost to the town’s commerce, agriculture and fishing, despite a series of wars, epidemics, and meteorological disasters suffered during the 19th century. The 20th century brought with it the beginning of an increase in population that would be multiplied in the 1950s with the arrival of various waves of immigration from other parts of Spain.

At the beginning of the 1960s the potential of tourism was discovered and began to be exploited. Large estates were built to house these new arrivals, who mainly came to enjoy the Mediterranean sun, beach and cuisine.

Cambrils Today - 2007

Looking at Cambrils today, the city, together with the Tarragona district, have enjoyed a very fast development over the last two decades. With fishing and agriculture background new emerging industries like chemical, petro chemical, services and tourism have had a great development leading to major investments in infrastructure and increased life standard. The Port of Cambrils today and its surroundings appears like a high standard modern village compared to only some few years ago. Luckily there are no tall buildings nor signs of mass tourism, so the locals have been successful in balancing local culture and integrity with tourism. Most of the tourists in this area are Spaniards that have their summer house at this beautiful fishing village with high quality beaches.

Demography

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

• Official site (in Catalan)
• Information from the Generalitat de Catalunya (in Catalan)
• Information from the Institut d'Estadística de Catalunya (in Catalan)
• Revista Cambrils Diari Digital - web newspaper (in Catalan)
• L'Anjub - Research group studying the traditional culture of Cambrils (in Catalan)
• Cambrils-Guide - information about the holiday resort Cambrils (in English)
• Just Salou and Cambrils - information about Cambrils and Salou(in English)
• Absolute Barcelona - Community website(in English)