History/Catalonia Mas de la Balma is situated in a region which is by its inhabitants considered to be part of Catalonia. Catalonia stretches forth from Tarragona (south of Barcelona) in Spain to Salses (north of Perpignan) in France. The Catalonians live in both the Spanish and the French part. They are en ancient people with a rich history, an own language and their own habits and traditions. At about 1700 the French king of that time prohibited the Catalonian language in France. This is no longer the case and Catalonian is spoken by the majority of the older generations. (The Borrat family, owners of La Balma also speaks Catalonian). Local politics uses the Catalonian flag and there is even a Catalonian school where children are taught in Catalonian. In this school French is a second language, mandatory of course. The Catalonians are proud of their language and culture. In spite of the suppression a lot of Catalonian habits and traditions have been preserved. A number of these traditions are also cherished on La Balma. You can think about events like the Cargolade on July 14th and August 15th, the feast of Saint Jean (San Joan) on June 23rd, the Rodella of Montbolo on July 30th and the dancing of the Sardana. The terrain of La Balma is situated in an area which has become important in the middle Ages, due to the rich layers of iron ore. Quite a lot of remains from that time gone show that by then the area was more densely populated than it is now. Everywhere in the forest you can find small walls for forming terraces, donkey trails, charcoal spots, canals for irrigation and ruins of farmhouses. At the foot of the Coustou (the small round mountain adjacent to the camping site) a nearly perfect furnace from the 12th century can be found. - Nature/Conservation - Links |
Naturist camping site Mas de la Balma Your paradise in the Mediterranean Pyrenees |
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