Vallibona

Vallibona
Municipality

Coat of arms
Vallibona

Location in Spain

Coordinates: 40°36′10″N 0°03′13″W / 40.60278°N 0.05361°W / 40.60278; -0.05361
Country  Spain
Autonomous community  Valencian Community
Province Castellón
Comarca Ports
Judicial district Vinaròs
Area
 • Total 91.4 km2 (35.3 sq mi)
Elevation 666 m (2,185 ft)
Population (2009)
 • Total 90
 • Density 0.98/km2 (2.6/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+1)
 • Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+2)
Postal code 12312
Official language(s) Valencian
Virgin Mary on the wall of the main church honoring the traditional bonds between Vallibona and Pena-roja (Peñarroya de Tastavins) over the hills in Matarranya
Vallibona seen from the west with the Ports de Beseit in the background.

Vallibona (Valencian pronunciation: [ˌvaʎiˈβɔna]) is a small town and municipality located in the Ports comarca, province of Castelló, part of the autonomous community of Valencia, Spain. According to the 2009 census, it has a total population of 90 inhabitants. It is located in the upper valley of the Cérvol River, between the Serra del Turmell and the Ports de Beseit mountain ranges, in a very lonely area, relatively far from other towns. Vallibona is part of the Taula del Sénia free association of municipalities.

Vallibona has a special relationship with the town of Pena-roja (Peñarroya de Tastavins) over the hills in Matarranya. It has been recorded that festivities have been celebrated together with that town at least since the 14th century.[1]

Sant Domènec de Vallibona is a small settlement with a church founded in 1237 located 12 km to the east, close to the road leading to Rossell.[2]

Vallibona is the birthplace of La Pastora, nickname of Florencio Pla Meseguer, also known as Teresa (1917 - 2004), a transvestite Spanish Maquis who used to disguise as a female and who operated in the Maestrat area until the early 1960s.[3]

This municipality should not be confused with Vallivana, a small settlement depending from Morella further SW.

History

Vallibona was a Muslim town until nearby Morella was conquered by James I of Aragon in the 13th century.

The town has lost much population in the last 100 years; it had 1,808 inhabitants in 1900 and 1,133 in 1950. After General Franco's Plan de Estabilización in 1959 the population declined steeply as people emigrated towards the industrial areas of Barcelona and coastal Castelló Province. Other causes of the strong emigration have been the abandonment of traditional agricultural practices by the local youth, such as sheep and goat rearing, as well as the lifestyle changes that swept over rural Spain during the second half of the 20th century.

By 1994 Vallibona had only a residual population of 104 inhabitants, mostly in their old age. Nowadays the town derives some income from rural tourism. Vallibona revives during the summer season when many former residents return to the town to spend the holidays.

See also

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Rogativa de Vallibona a Pena-Roja de Tastavins
  2. ↑ Vallibona
  3. ↑ Jose Calvo Segarra, La pastora. Del monte al mito, ed. by Odette Calvo
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