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| Comarca of Vallès Oriental | |
|---|---|
| Name | Vallès Oriental |
| Native name | Vallès Oriental |
| Settlement type | Comarca |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | Spain |
| Subdivision type1 | Autonomous community |
| Subdivision name1 | Catalonia |
| Subdivision type2 | Province |
| Subdivision name2 | Barcelona |
| Seat type | Capital |
| Seat | Granollers |
| Area total km2 | 734.5 |
| Population total | 409874 |
| Population as of | 2020 |
| Population density km2 | auto |
Comarca of Vallès Oriental
Vallès Oriental is a comarca in the province of Barcelona within the autonomous community of Catalonia, Spain. The comarca's capital is Granollers, and it forms part of the historical and economic metropolitan area surrounding Barcelona and the Terra Nostra corridor. It includes a mix of industrial centers, agricultural plains, and pre-coastal mountain ranges, linking municipalities like Mollet del Vallès, Sabadell, and Vic in regional networks.
Vallès Oriental occupies terrain between the Serralada Litoral and the Montseny Massif, extending to the Montnegre i el Corredor Natural Park and the Litoral Català. Major rivers include the Besòs River and tributaries that feed into the Mediterranean Sea. Topographically it contains elevations such as Matagalls and passes like the Collsacabra corridor, and hosts protected areas associated with Montseny Natural Park and Parc Natural del Montseny. Neighboring comarques include Osona, Vallès Occidental, Maresme, and Selva.
The area has prehistoric and Roman traces connected to sites like Tarraco and medieval formations related to the County of Barcelona and the Crown of Aragon. Medieval fortifications include castles linked to families documented in the Treaty of Corbeil era and feudal institutions that referenced the Counts of Barcelona and the House of Barcelona. During the early modern period, Vallès Oriental participated in events tied to the War of the Spanish Succession and the Peninsular War. The 19th century brought industrialization influenced by textile centers akin to those in Manchester-style urbanization across Catalonia and the rise of labor movements registered alongside unions such as early branches linked to the CNT and the UGT. In the 20th century, municipalities experienced involvement in the Spanish Civil War and later integration into the post-Franco Spanish state shaped by legislation of the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia.
Population centers include Granollers, Mollet del Vallès, Vallromanes, Sant Celoni, and Montmeló. Demographic patterns reflect migration flows similar to those affecting Barcelona metropolitan expansion, with census trends tracked by the Instituto Nacional de Estadística and the Statistical Institute of Catalonia. Cultural composition includes speakers of Catalan language and Spanish language, and communities tied to immigration from regions like Andalusia, North Africa, and Latin America. Religious and cultural institutions reference diocesan structures such as the Roman Catholic Diocese of Terrassa and cultural centers comparable to Mercat de Les Flors or heritage sites catalogued by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
Economic activity combines manufacturing clusters reminiscent of Torras i Ribalta-era textile firms, chemical plants comparable to those in Barcelona Province, logistics hubs linked to the Port of Barcelona supply chain, and agrarian operations producing crops typical of the Mediterranean Basin. Industrial municipalities are integrated into supply networks with firms associated with sectors present in Catalonia like automotive suppliers, metallurgy, and food processing. Business support and development interact with institutions such as the Chamber of Commerce of Barcelona, research groups from universities like the Autonomous University of Barcelona and the Polytechnic University of Catalonia, and technology parks modeled on 22@ Barcelona initiatives.
Administrative responsibilities are exercised by municipal councils in towns like Granollers and by intermunicipal bodies analogous to consortia operating under the framework of the Generalitat de Catalunya. Territorial planning follows statutes influenced by provincial authorities of Barcelona (province) and aligns with regional regulations deriving from the Statute of Autonomy of Catalonia. Law enforcement presence includes agencies comparable to the Mossos d'Esquadra and coordination with state bodies such as the Guardia Civil in certain competencies. Public services and social policies are delivered in cooperation with entities like the Institut Català de la Salut and provincial departments of infrastructure.
The comarca comprises numerous municipalities including Granollers, Mollet del Vallès, La Roca del Vallès, Cardedeu, Sant Celoni, Montmeló, Tagamanent, Cànoves i Samalús, Vallromanes, Cabrera de Mar, Gualba, Figaró-Montmany, Santa Maria de Palautordera, Llinars del Vallès, Sant Feliu de Codines, Montseny, Seva, Sant Antoni de Vilamajor, Sant Pere de Vilamajor, and Aiguafreda. Each municipality maintains a town council and local services, participates in intermunicipal cooperation, and preserves heritage sites listed by provincial cultural registers such as historic churches, masies, and medieval streets comparable to those in Vic and Girona.
Vallès Oriental is served by road corridors like the AP-7, C-17, and regional roads connecting to the A-7 network, and by rail lines operated by Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya and Renfe commuter services linking to Plaça de Catalunya and Sants Estació. Freight and logistics integrate with the Port of Barcelona and airports such as Barcelona–El Prat Airport. Local mobility includes bus operators similar to Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona routes and cycling infrastructure programs inspired by city schemes from Barcelona and Terrassa. Utilities and energy supply are connected to grids managed by companies like those operating in the Catalan energy market and regional water consortiums following standards set by the European Union directives on infrastructure.
Category:Comarques of Barcelona