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Geographic Location |
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The valley of Sant Daniel is situated to the east of the city of Girona. It is extends approximately 768 hectares and has a population of 625 inhabitants (1996 census).
From the north the valley is surrounded by the mountains of Campadorà and Montjuïc, and to the east by the mountain chain las Gavarres whose highest peaks are Sant Miquel (388m), Puig Estela (379m), Puig Ventó (329m), and Puig de les Àligues (279m).
The mountain chain forms a natural barrier for the valley, and to the south it is enclosed by the hill "O" (175m) and the city of Girona that lies to the east of the valley. |
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Origin of the Name |
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Prior to the 9th century, the valley was known as Vall Ombrosa or Vall Tenebrosa o Profunda; names derived from the dense vegetation and its location among the surrounding mountain chains.
In 888 the valley was re-named when the body of Sant Daniel was brought to the valley after Sant Daniel was martyred in Arles, Provençe. However, during the Civil War (1936-1939), the valley was called the Vall de Galligants. |
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Municipal Independence Until 1936 |
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Until 1963 Sant Daniel was an independent municipality with its own city council that governed the valley of Sant Daniel, a large part of the mountain Montjuïc, the Pont Major, and much of the mountain of Sant Miquel.
On the outskirts of Girona, beyond the neighborhood of Les Pedreres, the neighborhoods of la Font de la Pólvora and Vila-roja, all the way to the street del Carme of Girona belonged to the municipality.
Essentially its municipal boundaries encircled the city of Girona to the north and to the east. And in 1451 the boundaries of the municipality of Girona were established and further defined in 1512 when the city's privileges were extended to these areas.
Part of the valley of Sant Daniel now came under Girona's municipality, but the syndicate of Sant Daniel intervened and regained its privileges. Throughout the 19th century Sant Daniel's city council fully established itself and at the beginning of the 20th century the municipality of Sant Daniel created a new district of Sant Miquel y Rafart. Sant Daniel's municipal boundaries were added to Girona's in June 1963. |
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The Monastery and the Cathedral |
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The countess Ermessenda established both the monastery of Sant Daniel and the cathedral church of Girona. As the wife of the count of Barcelona Ramón Borrell and the sister of the bishop of Girona, Pere Roger, countess Ermessenda wielded incredible power and influence.
The count and countess purchased from her brother, the bishop of Girona, the small church of Sant Daniel and its lands for one hundred ounces of pure gold. The bishop then used the gold for the construction of the Romanesque cathedral of Girona, which was consecrated in 1036.
The cathedral's cloister and the Romanesque tower, called Carlomagno, are intact and can still be seen despite the gothic additions made to the cathedral in the 14th century. |
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Farmland and Seven Centuries of History |
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From the 13th to 15th centuries, much of the valley of Sant Daniel and its surrounding lands were cultivated into farms and farm-houses. At the end of the war of Remences (1486), the most important lands were consolidated and cultivated: Pi, Preses, Miralles, la Torre d'en Rosés and Can Llinàs.
However, continuous warring conflicts in 1640-1659 (Guerra dels Segadors) and in 1702-1714 (Guerra de Succesió) hindered agricultural development and production, and thus many farmers abandoned their lands. The situation improved throughout the 18th century and many farms were re-developed, particularly Miralles, Lliure, Poater and Noguer.
But once again, at the end of the 18th and beginning of the 19th century, the Great War and the war of independence against Napoleon, left many farming communities impoverished and impaired the valley's agricultural production. |
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Fountains and Springs |
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The valley is teeming with natural springs and creeks, and along with the plentiful rain that falls in this part of Catalunya, is the main water source for the population in the area. In particular, the natural spring known as the fuente de Pericot, formerly known as the Font Romana, is one of the oldest and most well-known of the valley.
The springs of Fita, Lleons, and Ferro are also much appreciated and well-known. |
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