Cadiz (in Spanish: Cádiz ) is the capital of the Province of Cadiz pertaining to the autonomous Communauté of Andalusia, in Spain.

Localization

Cadiz is located at approximately 30 km in the south of the mouth of the Guadalquivir. Cadiz is built on a rock connected to the continent by a narrow roadway and at the edge of a bay opening on the Atlantic Ocean. With the last census, the city counted 136.236 inhabitants. Cadiz is the single city (important) Golfe of Cadiz whose population has decreased for a few years because of a strong emigration. It exists there two types of shifts in population: in the first the population leaves the area and in the second, the population leaves the villages of the gulf to go to Cadiz. Nevertheless, in Cadiz, the population of less than 20 years is only of 20,58%. It is a fishing port, travellers and posséddant military fortifications. It is from there that leave the ships which sail towards the Canary islands, the Africa and the South America. A bridge of 3.400 m, built in 1969, spans bay.

History

Cadiz is one of the oldest towns of Europe while being founded under the name of Gadès in 1104 av. J. - C. by the Phéniciens and resembled Tyr then. Of 700 av. J. - C. with 600 av. J. - C. the city was a gone rich person where one found Ambre and tin. The Carthaginian seized the city in 501 av. J. - C.. It was joined the Romans in 205 av. J. - C. during the Second Punic War, which was worth to him a preferential treatment on behalf of the Roman République. Jules César granted to his inhabitants the Roman Citoyenneté in 49 av. J.C because they had taken party for him and driven out the pompéiens (Dion Cassius, 41,24).

The city was destroyed by the Visigoths at the 5th century. In 711, it was taken by the Moors, which rebuilt it. In 858, it is plundered by the chief Viking Hasting.

Then Alphonse X, king of Castille and León, took again the city in 1262. After the transatlantic crossing of Christophe Colomb in 1492, the Spanish ships which brought back the treasures of the America S used Cadiz as port of fastening and the city became one of the richest towns of Europe. When the other maritime powers of Europe started to threaten naval supremacy of Spain, Cadiz faced many battles. An English fleet directed by sir Francis Drake attacked the port in 1587 by destroying many vessels and in 1596, the city was plundered by English ships under the orders of Robert Devereux (count d' Essex). During the next century, Cadiz was attacked by the English with three recoveries. The city counts at important French community. In 1762, the trading profits Nets of the French, calculated by Catastro to be used as a basis for Unica contribucion, correspond for Cádiz to 472.200 pesos or piastres, is 1.888.800 books and 42,45% of the whole of the benefit. These figures underestimate the share of the French, because these French tradesmen established in Cadiz and Seville work for the foreign traders, especially English.

One of these French, Armand Joseph Dubernad finance the channel of Murcie, is police chief and shareholder of the Banque of Saint-Charles, created by his cousin François Cabarrus, Minister for king d' Espagne. He also finances the wars carried out by the king of Spain. He is also trader with Seville and Morlaix. In spite of the protection of Floridablanca, François Cabarrus and ambassadors and consuls, he is persecuted by the Inquisition.

Because of French revolution, wars and blockade, these French will have to turn over to France. Cadiz is blocked by the British fleet for almost fifteen months between 1797 and 1798.

During the Napoleonean wars, Cadiz was besieged by the French fleet of February 1810 at August 1812. It gave its name to the first Spanish constitution, the Constitution of Cadiz, in 1812. When Spain lost its colonies in America, at the 19th century, the richness of the city started to decline.

During the war of Spain, Cadiz was a base of the nationalist forces of the general Franco.

Economy

Important local festivals

  • the Carnival of Cadiz

  • the Holy Week
  • Feria of the horse
  • Horse-races, more the hurdy-gurdies of Spain which are held since 1845 on the beach of Cadiz.

Tourism

The tourist assets most important of Cadiz are its beach (which extends on several kilometers), its history and its festivals. But the ideal remains to be lost by one night of summer to have fun the festival in the district of Viña where it is said that the festivals never stop.

Twinning

Famous people born in Cadiz

See too

Sources of the article

Random links:Just Friends (film, 1994) | Syndrome of Stickler | BBC Grosseto | Dominique Regia-Corte | Dutch institute of mercatic