Lleida City
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In the 18th century the city regained its image and dimension; in the reign of Carlos III Catedral Nova (new cathedral) was built. The new ideas of Enlightenment gave rise to such remarkable figures as Blondel and Baró de Maials. They changed the appearance of the city according to its role as the capital city of the province and applied the new agricultural studies to crops. At the beginning of the 19th century Lleida endured a new setback, the Napoleonic invasion. Once again the city had to recover from the disasters of wars and a new period started from the second half of the 19th century. The railway line reached the city in 1860; in 1864 Camps Elisis Gardens were open and in 1865 architect Josep Fontseré began to design the first modern city plan. The beginning of the 20th century meant the reassertion of the Catalan State with Mancomunitat of Catalonia. The Spanish Civil War (1936 –1939) destroyed the city again. Then, in 1940, with only 40,000 inhabitants, everybody’s effort was needed to achieve urban, commercial and demographic growth. Nowadays the city of Lleida, with about 115,000 inhabitants, has updated its infrastructures to link the different neighbourhoods to the city centre thanks to the building of Pont Nou (bridge) in 1973, Pont Universitat in 1993, Pont Pardinyes in 1995 and the new footbridge in 1997. In 1999 the old slaughterhouse became Teatre de l’Escorxador (municipal theatre). Moreover, in the year 2000 the inside night lighting of Seu Vella was installed and the restoration of Porta dels Fillols (door) was finished, the Blondel footbridge (1997) and the recently open footbridge in Avinguda del Segre (2003). Urban expansion and the creation of new facilities have shaped the beginning of the 21st century. The opening of the Motoring Museum —Roda Roda—, the recovery of the Templar castle of Gardeny and the opening of the new fruit and vegetable market are some of the most notable events so far this new century, while the AVE high-speed train, the Arts Centre in the history.In the 18th century the city regained its image and dimension; in the reign of Carlos III Catedral Nova (new cathedral) was built. The new ideas of Enlightenment gave rise to such remarkable figures as Blondel and Baró de Maials. They changed the appearance of the city according to its role as the capital city of the province and applied the new agricultural studies to crops. At the beginning of the 19th century Lleida endured a new setback, the Napoleonic invasion. Once again the city had to recover from the disasters of wars and a new period started from the second half of the 19th century. The railway line reached the city in 1860; in 1864 Camps Elisis Gardens were open and in 1865 architect Josep Fontseré began to design the first modern city plan. The beginning of the 20th century meant the reassertion of the Catalan State with Mancomunitat of Catalonia. The Spanish Civil War (1936 –1939) destroyed the city again. Then, in 1940, with only 40,000 inhabitants, everybody’s effort was needed to achieve urban, commercial and demographic groic building of La Panera and the future construction of the Business and Convention Centre (B&CC) will be the most important features of 2004. |
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Lleida is the capital city of Segrià region and the province that takes its name. It is the most important demographic and economical centre inland Catalonia. Its economy is based on the agricultural and food sectors as well as on all kinds of services. Shopping, with a strong tradition and deeply rooted in the city, spreads its influence over Segrià and neighbouring regions. The newly opened high standard cultural facilities, like the new University Campus, have boosted the city’s cultural life. Lleida is a modern city, which is culturally active, well communicated and situated in a unique natural environment. |
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Lleida has the privilege of being provided with natural areas as important as La Mitjana natural park –an ecosystem of great natural and ecological worth-, River Segre park or Camps Elisis, apart from the “irrigated area”, the green belt that surrounds the city. This natural legacy has made Lleida grow following environmental and quality values within the framework of a sustainable city. |
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