L'Hospitalet de Llobregat

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, often called L'Hospitalet or L'H, is a city in Catalonia, Spain. It is part of the big area around Barcelona and is very close to that major city. As of 2024, it has about 282,299 people, making 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 make the region busy and full of life.

Etymology

The name L'Hospitalet means "the small hospital" in Catalan. It refers to an old hostel in the area. The name of the river Llobregat is added to tell it apart from other places with the same name.

History

The first signs of people living in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat go back to very old times, during the Neolithic era. Later, during Roman times around the 2nd century BC, important items were found, like a decoration showing the head of Medusa, which is now 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 three different parts of the town. During this time, farming was very successful. In 1920, part of the town was given to Barcelona, and L'Hospitalet started to focus more on 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 is split into two parts. One part, called La Marina, is near the coast and is similar to 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's population was 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.

Economy

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat used to be known as a poorer area close to Barcelona. Recently, its economy has gotten better. You can see this in the city's new buildings and companies moving to its new business area. During the 2000s, the city worked on renewing its urban 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) – Completed
• Torre Realia BCN (2009) – 112 metres (367 ft) – Completed
• Hotel Catalonia Plaza Europa (2011) – 105 metres (344 ft) – Completed
• Hesperia Tower (2006) – 106 metres (348 ft) – Completed
• Tower Caixa Catalunya (?) – 106 metres (348 ft) – Planned
• Torre Inbisa (2010) – 104 metres (341 ft) – Completed
• Torre Zenit (2009) – 104 metres (341 ft) – Completed
• Hospital de Bellvitge (1972) – 82 metres (269 ft) – Completed

Other buildings that are shorter include several Tower Fadesa buildings and City Judicial Buildings, all of which have been completed. There are also some buildings still under construction or on hold.

Administrative units

District I

El Centre is the oldest part of the city, where the City Council and many cultural buildings are located, such as the History Museum and libraries. 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 originally an industrial area with many factories, but today it is mostly a place for people to live.

Sanfeliu is known for its celebrations like the festival of Sant Joan and Carnival, which happen around the Communities Square.

District II

Collblanc is busy with 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.

Gornal

District VII

Granvia l'Hospitalet

Transport

Main article: Transport in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat

L'Hospitalet de Llobregat has many ways to get around, making it easy to travel. The city is well-connected by trains, buses, and metro lines, linking it closely to Barcelona and other nearby places. This helps people move quickly and comfortably for work, school, or 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:

• Bayonne, France
• Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina