Valls ( Catalan pronunciation: [baʎs] ) is a city and municipality in the Camp de Tarragona region in Catalonia , Spain. It is the capital of the comarca of Alt Camp . In 2014, it had a population of 24,570.
18-524: Valls is known for its calçots – a type of scallion or green onion – and the human towers tradition known as the castells . The town is the birthplace of the composer Robert Gerhard (1896–1970). Valls is the capital of the comarca of Alt Camp . With a population of 24,570 inhabitants in 2014, it represents more than half of the population of the county. It is located next to the River Francolí , near Reus ( Baix Camp ) and Tarragona ( Tarragonès ),
36-433: A diameter of 1.7 to 2.5 cm at the root. Planted in trenches, like an onion, as a single bulb, and successively increasing the depth of the soil around the stems throughout autumn and winter (see earthing up ), they sprout into 4–10 shoots, roughly the shape of small leeks or scallions . The origin of the calçot and its cooking method is in the town of Valls , Catalonia , Spain , where an annual event celebrates
54-658: A "PGI" (Protected Geographical Indication) status in the same way that champagne does. Another cultural tradition of Valls is the practice of building " castells " at festivals, towers of people sometimes as much as ten individuals high, with each layer being supported by the people below. This human tower tradition originated in the Ball dels Valencians in Valls, first recorded in 1712, and later spread to nearby towns such as Vilafranca del Penedès and Tarragona , and more recently, to other parts of Catalonia. The composer Roberto Gerhard
72-450: A basketball club. Cal%C3%A7ot Calçot ( Catalan: [kəlˈsɔt] ) is a type of green onion. The name calçot comes from the Catalan language . The calçot from Valls ( Tarragona , Catalonia , Spain ) is a registered EU Protected Geographical Indication . Calçots are milder and less bulbous than onions and have a length of between 15 and 25 cm (white part) and
90-412: A large type of sweet-flavoured spring onion , barbecued over a pit of flaming vines, and eaten piping hot with a sauce. The calçotada continues with a main course of meats and sausages grilled over the same glowing coals, and is washed down with locally produced wines. The calçots are only available between December and May and draw diners from as far away as Barcelona . The calçot is grown locally and has
108-446: A special sauce (similar to romesco and to salvitxada ). The green tops are discarded. It's customary to wear a large bib for the sauce stains. The calçots can be accompanied by red wine or cava sparkling wine. Pieces of meat and bread slices are often roasted in the charcoal after cooking the calçots. For dessert, a typical choice is oranges and white cava . Valls Valls ( Catalan pronunciation: [baʎs] )
126-498: Is a city and municipality in the Camp de Tarragona region in Catalonia , Spain. It is the capital of the comarca of Alt Camp . In 2014, it had a population of 24,570. Valls is known for its calçots – a type of scallion or green onion – and the human towers tradition known as the castells . The town is the birthplace of the composer Robert Gerhard (1896–1970). Valls is the capital of
144-404: Is at a calçotada (plural: calçotades ), a gastronomical celebration held between November and April, where barbecued calçots are consumed in massive quantities. In a typical event, calçots are grilled until the outer layers are charred, then wrapped in newspaper to steam, served on terra cotta tiles and eaten after peeling off the charred skin with bare hands and dipping the white portion in
162-585: Is grown locally and has a "PGI" (Protected Geographical Indication) status in the same way that champagne does. Another cultural tradition of Valls is the practice of building " castells " at festivals, towers of people sometimes as much as ten individuals high, with each layer being supported by the people below. This human tower tradition originated in the Ball dels Valencians in Valls, first recorded in 1712, and later spread to nearby towns such as Vilafranca del Penedès and Tarragona , and more recently, to other parts of Catalonia. The composer Roberto Gerhard
180-455: The comarca of Alt Camp . With a population of 24,570 inhabitants in 2014, it represents more than half of the population of the county. It is located next to the River Francolí , near Reus ( Baix Camp ) and Tarragona ( Tarragonès ), the capital of the Spanish province . Valls is known for its culinary tradition, the feasting on calçots at what is known as a "calçotada". The calçots are
198-548: The capital of the Spanish province . Valls is known for its culinary tradition, the feasting on calçots at what is known as a "calçotada". The calçots are a large type of sweet-flavoured spring onion , barbecued over a pit of flaming vines, and eaten piping hot with a sauce. The calçotada continues with a main course of meats and sausages grilled over the same glowing coals, and is washed down with locally produced wines. The calçots are only available between December and May and draw diners from as far away as Barcelona . The calçot
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#1732852455121216-402: The harvest of calçots. Nowadays, thousands of eating gatherings centered around the calçots , called calçotades (singular: calçotada ), are celebrated around Catalonia. In these events, they are grilled over a hot fire, wrapped up in newspaper, served on terra cotta tiles and eaten, after peeling with bare hands, by dipping them one by one in special sauce (made with almonds). The origin of
234-563: The start of construction of a multimedia museum devoted to the culture of castells, called the Casteller Museum of Catalonia ("Museu Casteller de Catalunya"), marketed in English as "The Human Towers Experience". The project was initially launched in 2015, and is supported by the Catalan government. Football clubs Unió Esportiva Valls and Atlètic de Valls play in the town, as does CB Valls ,
252-402: The start of construction of a multimedia museum devoted to the culture of castells, called the Casteller Museum of Catalonia ("Museu Casteller de Catalunya"), marketed in English as "The Human Towers Experience". The project was initially launched in 2015, and is supported by the Catalan government. Football clubs Unió Esportiva Valls and Atlètic de Valls play in the town, as does CB Valls ,
270-428: The variety is disputed, but one of the most commonly accepted versions [unsubstantiated] of its history is that they were developed by Xat de Benaiges, a peasant farmer from Valls around the turn of the 20th century. He is said to have been the first to have planted the sprouts of garden onions, covering them with earth so a longer portion of the stems remained white and edible. The most traditional way of eating calçots
288-523: The word calçot comes from term "calçar" in Catalan, which corresponds to hilling . Hence the word "calçot" roughly mean "that which has been hilled". This is due to the fact that calçots get their characteristic shape and texture from this process. The word "calçar" itself literally means "to shoe", and ultimately derives from the Latin calceus , a type of footwear that covered the ankle and lower shin - hence its use by analogy in this context. The origin of
306-922: Was born in Valls in 1896. He studied under Charles Koechlin in Paris and under Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna and Berlin before returning to Barcelona in 1928. During the Spanish Civil War he supported the Republican cause and was forced to flee the country in 1939, first to Paris and then to England where he spent the rest of his life, while his town was bombarded and a lot of Republican and Catholic citizens were killed. His works were virtually banned from performance in Spain under Francisco Franco . His output included symphonies, stage works, chamber music , choral music and electronic music . In January 2017, Valls City Council announced
324-665: Was born in Valls in 1896. He studied under Charles Koechlin in Paris and under Arnold Schoenberg in Vienna and Berlin before returning to Barcelona in 1928. During the Spanish Civil War he supported the Republican cause and was forced to flee the country in 1939, first to Paris and then to England where he spent the rest of his life, while his town was bombarded and a lot of Republican and Catholic citizens were killed. His works were virtually banned from performance in Spain under Francisco Franco . His output included symphonies, stage works, chamber music , choral music and electronic music . In January 2017, Valls City Council announced
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