Discover Balaguer: Al-Andalus, Mercadal Square and Holiday Apartments

Culture and history

Balaguer preserves urban traces dating back to its origins at the beginning of the 8th century and conveys the medieval coexistence of Muslim, Christian and Jewish cultures in Al-Andalus.

The surviving fortifications of Balaguer were rebuilt with a new wall from the 14th century onwards. Today, this wall can be visited and walked along.

The historic centre of Balaguer is one of the few surviving urban centres of Catalan origin from Al-Andalus.

Mercadal Square is Catalonia’s largest medieval arcaded square and covers 7,000 square metres. Traditionally, a weekly market is held there every Saturday.

Santa Maria is a single-nave Gothic collegiate church.

Both the church and the cloister of the Sant Domènec monastery have been preserved in the Catalan Gothic style.

The Sant Crist sanctuary stands on the site of the former main mosque of the Saracens. The image of Balaguer’s patron saint is venerated there.

Castell Formós was a former suda and later the residence of the Counts of Urgell.

In this way, different eras and religious influences meet in the historic cityscape: early traces of Al-Andalus, medieval fortifications, Gothic religious buildings and the former residence of the Counts of Urgell stand side by side in the same urban history. Mercadal Square complements these historical testimonies with a public space that is still regularly used today.

Archaeology and experiences

Pla d’Almatà is the largest preserved Al-Andalus site in Catalonia.

The archaeological remains of Pla d’Almatà belong to a neighbourhood of the city of Madina Balaguer, which was established from the 10th century onwards.

The archaeological site includes four excavated houses that have been developed as a museum, as well as two sections of streets.

The permanent exhibition at the La Noguera Museum includes a room about Balaguer as an Islamic city. Pla d’Almatà is the focus of this room.

At the Segre Gold Panning Centre, visitors pan gold-bearing sand from the Segre River. They can use a pan or a sluice for this purpose.

The Balaguer Tourist Office offers guided tours of the historic centre for groups of 10 or more throughout the year. The tours are led by knowledgeable guides.

The archaeological houses and sections of streets make the architectural structure of the former neighbourhood visible, while the exhibition at the La Noguera Museum addresses the historical context as an Islamic city. When panning for gold on the Segre, two different pieces of equipment are available: a pan and a sluice.

Connections

The railway line from Lleida to La Pobla de Segur runs through Balaguer.

The tourist train Tren dels Llacs travels from Lleida to La Pobla de Segur and stops in Balaguer.

The railway connection and the tourist train therefore refer to the same route between Lleida and La Pobla de Segur; Balaguer is explicitly listed as a stop on the Tren dels Llacs journey.

Other linked places are Guils del Cantó, Montoliu de Segarra, Peramea, Bescaran, Torrebesses, Esterri De Aneu, Bóixols and Talavera.

Festivals and regional cuisine

At the Festa de la Coca in May, there is a large tasting of a long Coca made by the bakers of the city of Balaguer.

Fira Q Balaguer is a fair held between April and May featuring cooking, tasting and demonstration activities.

The two events therefore focus on different forms of regional cuisine: the long Coca made by the bakers at the Festa de la Coca, and cooking, tasting and demonstrations at Fira Q Balaguer.

To the higher-level travel overview: Lleida.