Vilalba dels Arcs

Vilalba dels Arcs is a municipality in the Terra Alta region.

Its municipality has a Templar past and had previously been part of the Miravet domain. The Hospitallers also passed through this territory that was later the scene of the War of the Reapers, the War of Succession and the Carlist Wars. In 1938 it was established as a republican front and today it is evidenced by the commemorative monument built in places known as the Four Cantons.

In the town of Vilalba dels Arcs we find medieval elements that remind us of its past. It is worth noting the porches of the square where houses are built. This same thing happened in the main street, but they are no longer preserved. The houses that we should not miss in Vilalba dels Arcs are Casa Martell and Casa Coll.

The religious buildings of Vilalba dels Arcs are diverse. The highlight is the church of San Lorenzo, made in a mixture of Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles in the 17th-18th centuries. There is also the chapel of the Virgen de Gracia from the Templar period and in the Romanesque style. Currently it is not used for ecclesiastical celebrations. In addition, we must count on the Calvary located at the top of a steep path where the chapel of the Virgen de los Dolores and the Virgen de Montserrat are located. Near this point are the public laundries, known as " La Fuente ".

It is worth mentioning two more hermitages, that of Berrús, which was saved from the waters of the swamp when it was moved to this place in 1965, and that of San Pablo. This was built under a natural stone that makes a roof.

Vilalba dels Arcs also has the Cooperativa Agrícola de la Germandat which is essentially dedicated to the wine production of white wines, white Garnacha and Macabeo with DO Terra Alta. Even so, they are also dedicated to the cultivation of almond and olive trees.

The most notable festivals in Vilalba dels Arcs are the Pilgrimage to Berrús and the summer festivals. The pilgrimage is held on the first Saturday after Easter and is the longest in all of Catalonia. The entrance to the town of all the walkers with reeds in hand and singing the rosary with an original intonation stands out. The summer festivities or fiesta de quintos are celebrated on August 8 and among the events that take place we find dancing and raffles for cakes.