Badajoz

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Badajoz
Collage de Badajoz.jpg
coat of arms Map of Spain
Badajoz coat of arms
Badajoz (Spain)
Finland road sign 311 (1994-2020) .svg
Basic data
Autonomous Community : ExtremaduraExtremadura Extremadura
Province : Badajoz
Comarca : Comarca de Badajoz
Coordinates 38 ° 52 ′  N , 6 ° 58 ′  W Coordinates: 38 ° 52 ′  N , 6 ° 58 ′  W
Height : 184  msnm
Area : 1,440.37 km²
Residents : 150,702 (Jan. 1, 2019)
Population density : 104.63 inhabitants / km²
Founding: 875 dC
Postal code : 06001-06012
Municipality number  ( INE ): 06015
administration
Mayor : Francisco Javier Fragoso Martínez ( PP )
Website : www.aytobadajoz.es
Location of the city
Badajoz, Spain location.png

Badajoz [ baðaˈxɔθ ] is the capital of the Badajoz Province in Extremadura ( Spain ). The city lies on both sides of the Guadiana River . Badajoz is a bishopric and university town. The population was 150,702 on January 1, 2019.

history

The city was founded around 875 by the Galician Muslim Ibn Marwan in rivalry with Mérida and, under his successors, was the capital of an emirate encompassing Spanish Extremadura and, in the 11th century, almost all of Portugal under the rule of the Aftasids (see also Taifa Kingdom ). The Arabic name of the city wasبطليوس / Baṭalyaus .

In October 1705 Badajoz was besieged by the troops of the Marquis de Minas during the War of the Spanish Succession . The siege had to be abandoned on October 16 after the French military leader Claude François Bidal, 1st marquis d'Asfeld, had massively harassed the containment ring.

The siege of Badajoz took place here from March 16 to April 6, 1812 , when the French garrison was besieged by a British-Portuguese army led by Arthur Wellesley and finally captured and sacked after the loss of around 5,000 men on the British side.

In the Spanish Civil War , after the Battle of Badajoz, an unknown number of Republicans were shot dead by General Franco's troops in the old bullfighting arena and buried right next to it.

The old bullfighting arena on Ronda de Pilar has now been converted into a modern congress center, which was completed at the beginning of 2007. It stands in contrast to the remains of the old city wall that attach directly to the building. The new bullfighting arena is only a few hundred meters away and attracts a lot of people in summer - the bullfighting season.

The cityscape is still characterized by a Moorish Alcazaba and a cathedral in Gothic-Romanesque style (built after the Christian conquest in 1230 until the 16th century).

Distances

Badajoz is about 404 kilometers from Madrid , 227 kilometers from Lisbon and 211 kilometers from Seville .

Districts

The districts of Badajoz are: Alcazaba, Alvarado, Balboa, Gévora, Novelda del Guadiana, Sagrajas , Valdebótoa and Villafranco del Guadiana. Guadiana del Caudillo also belonged to Badajoz, but has been an independent municipality since February 17, 2012.

Events

Twice a year the Mira al Guadiana event takes place on the Guadiana River. There are painting competitions (Concurso de Pintura al Aire Libre), where either scenes by the river or impressions of the city are brought to the canvas. The award ceremony takes place at the end of the day. The winning picture will be hung in the town hall in Plaza de España.

On the outskirts of the city is Lusiberia , a leisure pool . In addition to the facility, the Feria de San Juan , a fair with the usual attractions, takes place in the open field at the end of June .

sons and daughters of the town

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Cifras oficiales de población resultantes de la revisión del Padrón municipal a 1 de enero . Population statistics from the Instituto Nacional de Estadística (population update).

Web links

Commons : Badajoz  - collection of images, videos and audio files