El Bages

The Bages in the Central Catalonia

The region of the Bages is in the center of Catalonia. On the halfway between mountain and sea, the Bages concentrates a big potential of development. At present, following the everlasting target, the Bages contributes to dynamize the whole Central Catalonia.

An economic diversified activity

The Bages was involved directly in the process of industrialization of Catalonia, a process that turned out to be favored by the plenty of water that comes from the drought of Manresa, built more than 650 years ago. Also, the extraordinary development of the textile colonies, close to the regional rivers, turned out to be complemented with the potassic extractions and the growth of the services in the regional capital. Nowadays, only a part of the potassic mining and the textile manufacture survives, but the industry has diversified: food, metallurgical, chemical... Also there have been consolidated the production of wines and agrarian products of quality.

For the growth of the economic activity the region of the Bages offers an industrial abundant soil and equipped good, with a direct communication with the principal centers of the country.

Developed services

The spectacular development stands out in the last years of the commerce and of the services, which cover, at present, areas beyond the regional limits. The Bages is provided with an intense network of offices of saving and bank; services specialized for the commerce and of the services, which cover, at present, areas beyond the regional limits. The Bages is provided with an intense network of offices of saving and bank; services specialized for the commerce and the industry (Integrated Head office of Goods, Enclosure Firal ...); important sanitary services which include clinics, diverse hospitals perfectly equipped; entities specialized in the support to companies and institutions.

Good educational, cultural possibilities and sports

In the educational area, the region of the Bages has several centers of average education and Professional training, in which a big variety of matters is given; a University Polytechnical School and other university centers. Institutions specialized, as the University Foundation of the Bages, promote the enlargement of the university teaching in the region.

Connected to the education, the cultural activity has always been present in the Bages. Entities and diverse affiliations act in the regional ambience promoting a cultural intense life. The Bages also has diverse local broadcasting stations of TV, three regional radio stations and many other local broadcasting stations. Also he has a newspaper that covers the whole Central Catalonia and different local and regional publications.

Regarding free time, in the Bages it is possible to practise sport in clubs, affiliations and very diverse sports facilities. Even, for the geographical proximity of the sea and of the Pyrenees it is possible to gain access easily, by means of the existing communications, to the practice of sports of snow, of mountain and nautical. The traditional celebrations are very present in the region. Major holidays, arbors, "correfocs", folkloric and popular celebrations take place during the whole year in the regional populations.

A region with future

The region of the Bages, favored by his geographical situation, can focus his future with confidence. In spite of the historical hazards and the economic conjunctures, the Bages can trust in the work, in the determination and in the culture, in the qualified labor and in the proven industrial experience of his inhabitants. With realistic attitude, but also with illusion, it will be necessary to work very much to improve the infraestructures, to combine initiatives, to assemble resources and to implant innovations. Nevertheless, the Bages, opened for four winds of the country, could contribute to the Catalonia of the XXIst century, a balanced and dynamic region where it is worth while working and living.