SafekipediaL'Hospitalet de Llobregat
Adapted from Wikipedia · Adventurer experience
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, often called L'Hospitalet or L'H, is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is very close to Barcelona and is part of the big area around that city.
As of 2024, about 282,299 people live there. This makes it the second-largest city in Catalonia and the fifteenth-largest in all of Spain.
Because so many people live there, L'Hospitalet is one of the most crowded cities in the European Union. It is an important part of the Barcelona area, helping to keep the region busy and full of life.
Etymology
The name L'Hospitalet means "the small hospital" in Catalan. It comes from an old hostel in the area. The name of the river Llobregat is added so we know which place we are talking about.
History
People have lived in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat since very old times, from the Neolithic era. During Roman times around the 2nd century BC, important items were found, like a decoration showing the head of Medusa, which is kept in the Archaeological Museum of Catalonia. The city was originally called Provençana and was first written about in the 10th century.
By the early 1900s, about 5,000 people lived there. In 1920, part of the town became part of Barcelona, and L'Hospitalet began making things like clothes, metal products, and building materials. In the 1960s and 1970s, many people moved to L'Hospitalet de Llobregat from other parts of Spain. More homes, schools, and places to play were built in the 1990s.
Geography
L'Hospitalet covers an area of 12.40 km2. The city has two parts. One part, called La Marina, is near the coast and is like areas in nearby Barcelona, such as La Marina del Prat Vermell and La Marina de Port. The other part, called El Samontà, has hills and is higher up.
Demographics
As of 2020, the city had 274,320 people. Many of these people were born in different places: some in Catalonia, others in different parts of Spain, and many more born in other countries.
By 2024, about 38% of the people living there were born outside of Spain. The largest groups coming from other countries were from Ecuadorians, Peruvians, Dominicans, Bolivians, and Colombians.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1842 | 2,504 | — |
| 1857 | 3,072 | +22.7% |
| 1877 | 3,604 | +17.3% |
| 1887 | 4,148 | +15.1% |
| 1900 | 4,891 | +17.9% |
| 1910 | 6,226 | +27.3% |
| 1920 | 12,393 | +99.1% |
| 1930 | 33,567 | +170.9% |
| 1940 | 50,070 | +49.2% |
| 1950 | 69,748 | +39.3% |
| 1960 | 121,995 | +74.9% |
| 1970 | 240,630 | +97.2% |
| 1981 | 295,074 | +22.6% |
| 1991 | 272,578 | −7.6% |
| 2001 | 239,019 | −12.3% |
| 2011 | 256,509 | +7.3% |
| 2021 | 265,003 | +3.3% |
| Source: INE | ||
Economy
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat was once a poorer area near Barcelona. But now its economy is improving. You can see this in the city's new buildings and companies moving to its new business area. In the 2000s, the city worked on renewing its areas and improving public transportation. The city is part of the larger Barcelona metropolitan area. The airline Spanair used to have its main office here. A former mayor, Celestino Corbacho, helped improve the city's facilities while working in the government.
Skyscrapers
See also: List of skyscrapers in Europe
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has many tall buildings, called skyscrapers. Some of the tallest ones include:
- Hotel Porta Fira (2010) – 113 metres (371 ft)
- Torre Realia BCN (2009) – 112 metres (367 ft)
- Hotel Catalonia Plaza Europa (2011) – 105 metres (344 ft)
- Hesperia Tower (2006) – 106 metres (348 ft)
- Tower Caixa Catalunya (?) – 106 metres (348 ft)
- Torre Inbisa (2010) – 104 metres (341 ft)
- Torre Zenit (2009) – 104 metres (341 ft)
- Hospital de Bellvitge (1972) – 82 metres (269 ft)
Other buildings that are shorter include several Tower Fadesa buildings and City Judicial Buildings. There are also some buildings still being built or not yet started.
Administrative units
District I
El Centre is the oldest part of the city. The City Council and many cultural buildings, like the History Museum and libraries, are here. It is next to the areas of Sanfeliu and Can Serra to the north, Bellvitge to the south, Sant Josep to the east, and the city of Cornellà de Llobregat to the west.
Sant Josep was once an industrial area with many factories. Today, it is mostly a place for people to live.
Sanfeliu is known for its celebrations, such as the festival of Sant Joan and Carnival, which happen around the Communities Square.
District II
Collblanc is a busy place for shopping and has a strong cultural life around the Collblanc Metro stop.
La Torrassa started near Collblanc and now has a big square and a park where many summer celebrations happen.
District III
Santa Eulàlia dates back to Medieval times and had many factories during the Industrial Revolution.
Gran Via Sud is the smallest area in the town.
District IV
La Florida is a neighborhood with many people from different countries and is one of the most crowded places in Europe.
Les Planes
District V
Pubilla Casas
Can Serra
District VI
Bellvitge was built in 1964 to give homes to many people who moved to Catalonia for work.
District VII
Transport
Main article: Transport in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has many ways to get around. You can use trains, buses, and metro lines to travel. These connect the city to Barcelona and nearby places. This makes it easy for people to go to work, school, or have fun.
International relations
See also: List of twin towns and sister cities in Spain
Twin towns and sister cities
L'Hospitalet has special friendships with these cities:
Images
Related articles
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