Priorat

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Priorat

Capital	Falset
Province	Tarragona
Largest city:	Falset
Demonym:	Prioratí, prioratina
Population:	9196 (2001) inhabitants.
Area:	496.2 km²
Population Density:	18.5 people/km²

Municipalities

Bellmunt del Priorat	La Bisbal de Falset
Cabacés	Capçanes
Cornudella de Montsant	Falset
La Figuera	Gratallops
Els Guiamets	Lloar
Margalef	Marçà
El Masroig	Molar
Morera de Montsant	Poboleda
Porrera	Pradell de la Teixeta
La Torre de Fontaubella	Torroja del Priorat
Ulldemolins	La Vilella Alta
La Vilella Baixa

For the Priorat wine region, see Priorat (DOQ).

Priorat is a comarca (county) in Catalonia, Spain. The central part of the comarca, "Priorat històric," produces the famous and prestigious wine of the Denominación de Origen Calificada Priorat. Wines from elsewhere in the comarca are denominated as Montsant. The area is also known for the production of hazelnuts.

Priorat had a steady loss of population during the 20th century, but has recently as of 2004 experienced a more prosperous economy, resulting in an end to this trend. In 2001, the population was 9,196, with only the capital (Falset) exceeding a population of 1,000.

[edit] Physical geography

Priorat has an area of 496 km² and is bordered by the River Ebro, and by the comarques of Baix Camp, les Garrigues, and Conca de Barberà. The region is mostly hilly, and in the extreme north of the comarca is the Montsant mountain range, rising to over 1000m; the south is bordered by the Mola de Colldejou and the mountain ranges of Llebaria and Santa Marina.

The climate is continental: dry and hot in summer, cold in the winter.