# Esplugues de Llobregat

Esplugues de Llobregat (Catalan pronunciation:) is a municipality of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Formerly in the Barcelonès, since 1990 it has been part of the comarca of Baix Llobregat. During recent decades Esplugues has evolved from a predominantly industrial town to a more diverse service area, preserving, however, its cultural and historical identity.
It is known for its characteristic old quarter, the only one in the Baix Llobregat area with such evocative and romantic areas. The winding Carrer de Montserrat goes through the sprawling architectural complex built between 1968 and 2017 by sculptor Xavier Corberó. The mansion of Can Cortada was home to the Baron Maldà, author of Calaix de Sastre, the most representative work of Catalan literature of the late 18th century. Esplugues holds a remarkable natural area with parks and green spaces such as the Park of Solidarity, the Park of Torrents and the Can Vidalet Park. From the mountain of Sant Pere Màrtir, it is possible to enjoy a picturesque viewpoint of the entire town.
The German School of Barcelona and the American School of Barcelona are located in town and attract wealthy expatriate families. Due to its proximity to the Camp Nou stadium, many famous footballers reside in Esplugues, such as Gerard Piqué, Andrés Iniesta, and Dani Alves, as well as the motorcycle racer Sete Gibernau, the former World Number 1 tennis player Arantxa Sánchez, and other personalities in Spanish showbiz.

## City connection

Esplugues de Llobregat has an excellent road network, being connected to the highways B-20 and B-23, the N-340 road, and its location right across from the Avinguda Diagonal, the most important avenue in Barcelona. The city resides 11 km (7 mi) away from the Airport of Barcelona, it is 13 km (8 mi) away from the port of Barcelona, and 10 km (6 mi) away to the Catalan capital downtown.
It is linked to Barcelona through the following bus lines: 57, 63, 67, 68, 157, metropolitan buses, and T1, T2 and T3 Trambaix lines. The only metro station in the area is Can Vidalet, on the L5 line. Two other stops are under construction and will be opened in 2018.

## History

At the summit of Sant Pere Màrtir mountain, remains of Iberian pottery have been found (monochrome glazed pottery, oxidized pottery, and Iberian "sandwich" type pottery), although no structural remains have been discovered. Esplugues de Llobregat has been documented since the year 964, in a will that mentions houses, vineyards, and orchards but does not reference any population center. It was not until 1096 that a territorial delimitation was recorded, noting around ten houses and approximately fifty inhabitants.
No remains of the small church from that time have survived, but it is known that it was very small, Romanesque, and had a modest bell gable. Dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalene, it was consecrated in 1103 by Bishop Berenguer of Barcelona. In the 12th century, the most influential family was the Picalquers, who owned most of the land in the area, including the Castle of Picalquers. During the Middle Ages, Esplugues was organized around two centers: the "sagrera," which housed the church and several farmhouses, and the Raval area, where the castle and an old inn were located.
It was not until the 18th century, with the construction of the Royal Road, that the town center shifted towards this new route, causing the old Raval nucleus to lose prominence. Evidence of this transformation includes the construction of a new inn (now the town hall) and the emergence of workers' houses on both sides of the road. By the 20th century, Esplugues transitioned from a village to a city, particularly from the 1950s onward, when its population grew from 5,000 inhabitants to 49,000 by 1990.
In recent decades, Esplugues has evolved from an industrial town into a service-oriented city, notable for its proximity to Barcelona. This has led to housing prices becoming, on average, among the highest in Spain.

## Demography

| 1900 | 1930 | 1950 | 1970 | 1986 | 2002 |
| 1,057 | 3,218 | 4,318 | 29,474 | 47,670 | 46,447 |
The municipality has a population of 46,447.

## Education

International schools in the municipality include:
* German School of Barcelona
* American School of Barcelona

## Twin towns

* Ahrensburg, Germany
* Macael, Spain

## Notable people

* Ailyn, singer and songwriter
* Carme Chacón, politician and minister of Defence
* Xavier Corberó, sculptor
* Óscar Jaenada, actor
* Mercedes Milá, journalist
* Lorenzo Milá, journalist
* Gerard Piqué, football player
* Víctor Ruiz, football player
* Lamine Yamal, football player