La Conca de Barberà is one of the most clearly defined of all the Catalan counties in geographical terms, and one of the oldest (the vegueria , or district, of Montblanc already formed what is basically the county of today back in the fourteenth century), whose name was already being used in the seventeenth century; a name which, curiously enough, does not come from the county capital but rather from a small local town: Barberà de la Conca. In the eleventh century, the region was already known as the "plano Barberano".

In geographical terms, the county has three clearly distinguishable areas. The first is the area known as the “real” Conca, the true river valley excavated by the Francolí and Anguera rivers. Its hub is the capital, Montblanc, and in agricultural terms the area is dominated by vineyards. The second geographical area is known as the "Baixa Segarra", and centres on the town of Santa Coloma de Queralt. A true sub-county with its own unique identity, in agricultural terms it is characterised by the cultivation of cereal crops. Finally, geographers have identified a third area, which relates to a little corner of the Prades mountains that belongs to the municipalities of Vilanova de Prades and Vallclara.

The county covers a total of 648.93 km2 divided between 22 municipalities, and has a population of over 19,000 people. The county capital is Montblanc, with more than 6,000 inhabitants.

The county economy has traditionally been based on agriculture, which combines harmoniously with industry, services and a growing tourism sector. Agriculture, typically dry-cropping, consists mainly of vineyards and cereal crops (wheat and barley). Other important crops include almonds, olives and hazelnuts. The few market garden areas can be found close to the rivers.

A very characteristic feature of some of the Conca towns is the way the locals speak, which is known as "xipella", a dialect which can also be found in the counties of La Segarra and L'Alt Urgell and forms a link between eastern and western Catalan, the two main varieties of the language. Xipella pronounces the final atonal ‘e' sound of words as an “i” sound.

As far as traditions and customs are concerned, the Conca, with a long-standing tradition of human tower building, still boasts the folkloric traditions of the "gralles", the "ball de bastons" (the oldest ones in the country) and above all the giants and ‘big heads'. In Montblanc, ancient elements of festival bestiary have been recovered, such as the mule, the dragon and the eagle. On important festival days in Montblanc you can also see the municipal band playing along the streets. This ancient ducal town also puts on a performance of the medieval legend of St. George every year, which Catalan tradition associates with Montblanc. Other interesting festivals in La Conca de Barberà are St. Isidore in Solivella, the Espiga festival in Santa Coloma de Queralt, the Wine Harvest festival in L'Espluga de Francolí and the festival of St. Anthony the Abbot in Montblanc and Santa Coloma de Queralt. Some of the most spectacular festivals are those of the Sacred Heart in Solivella and the Sants Metges in Sarral, and especially the festival held every 25 years in Montblanc in worship of the Virgin of the Serra.

Craftwork in the county includes the traditional manufacture of blown-glass ornaments in Vimbodí, while Sarral has a long-standing alabaster industry for decorative objects. There are some major centres of artistic ironwork in L'Espluga de Francolí and Montblanc; and Senan, Forès, Solivella, Montblanc and Belltall produce artisan ceramic work.

Finally, if you're visiting the county, be sure to sample some of the most traditional of La Conca de Barberà dishes such as curly endive with Romesco sauce and salt cod, flatbread (cocas) topped with onions, herrings or spinach, raisins and pine-nuts, and for dessert merlets , montblanquins and carquinyolis . Other famous regional products are the wines, oils and almonds from La Conca and finally the excellent artisan cavas produced by some of the county's cooperatives.

 Conca de Barbera web