Solsona

With a population of 9,200 inhabitants (2023 census) and an area of 1,832 hectares, Solsona still retains today the charm and character which are the main attractions of its rich, historic and cultural heritage.

Solsona is the capital of the area called El Solsonès. The first settlements date back to the Neolithic period, but the origin of the present town is in the 10th century when two areas grew around the castle and around the monastery until they merged. The bishopric of Solsona was created in 1593 and one year later Solsona was granted the title of “city”.

It preserves the shape of the old walled medieval town and still preserves three gates to enter the old quarter, one is the Portal del Pont, another is the Castell and the other is the Llobera gateway. We can still see parts of the walls and the Pou de gel where ice was produced, stored and sold.

The town offers various cultural possibilities such as the Diocesan and regional museum and the Solsonès Tourist Interpretation Centre which includes a reproduction of a knife-making workshop. There are also buildings with great architectonic value such as the cathedral, built in Gothic style but with parts of a previous Romanesque temple consecrated in 1163. We can still see the Romanesque apses and the bell tower. In the cathedral we can admire the Baroque altarpiece of the Mercè virgin and the sculpture in stone of the Claustre virgin from the 12th c. The Episcopal Palace is a neoclassic building that houses the museum with Romanesque, Gothic, and Renaissance art as well as salt sculptures from the Cardona’s mines. Take your time to visit the town, enjoying its squares like Sant Joan´s, buildings such as the town hall, the Llobera Palace which is a typical Catalan building from the 16th c. etc.

Many of the streets in the centre have the name of a saint, where as others have kept the old name according to the social function they fulfilled. One such street is Terceries the name which was given to butchers’. Llices Street is where the medieval games and tournaments were celebrated. Regata Street is where the water vas directed from the fountain in order to irrigate the vegetable gardens outside the city walls. In many places if you look up, you will be able to see carved wooden heads in the beams under the roofs of the houses. You can also see the supports for the wooden sticks which lit up the  city streets.

More information: Town hall of Solsona