Vic

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See also VIC.

**Vic**
Image:Escut de Vic.jpg
Image:Vic location within Osona.png Osona
Population (2004)	36.571
Area	30,92 Km²
Population density (2004)	1.1195,1 hab/Km²
Elevation	484 m

Image:Templo romano de Vic.jpg Image:Vic (Barcelona). Plaza Mayor.jpg

Vic is the capital of the comarca (comparable to a county or shire) of Osona, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. Its population is approximately 36,571 (2004) with an area of 30.92 km²; elevation above sea level is 484 m. Its geographic location, only 69 km from Barcelona and 60 km from Girona, has made the city one of the most important of central Catalonia. On December 22, 2005, the city won a total of 2.4 billion euro in lottery money ([1]).

1 History
2 Culture
3 Economy
4 See also
5 External links and references

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History

During the 8th and 9th centuries, Vic sat in the Spanish Marches that separated Frankish and Islamic forces. It was destroyed in 788 during a Muslim incursion and repopulated by Gifré el Pelós in 878 who gained control over the high part of the city and gave up the lowest part to the bishop to construct the episcopal see. From then forth, the city was ruled by the count of Barcelona and by the bishop of Vic.

At a council in Toulouges in 1027, the bishop of Vic established the first Peace and Truce of God that helped reduce private warfare.

During the 18th century the city was the first focus of the rebellion against the centralist policy of Philip V, King of Spain. The conflict became the War of the Spanish Succession, which resulted in Catalonia losing its freedom as a nation.

In 1992 Vic held the Roller Hockey events of the 1992 Summer Olympics of Barcelona.

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Culture

Among other centers and institutions working to promote culture education, Vic is renowned for:

The Universitat de Vic, a young but active University that, according to its numbers, has grown to be the most important outside the four main cities of Catalonia.
The Museu episcopal, a medieval art museum administered by the bishopric.
The Museu de la pell, a museum dedicated to leathers.
The popular markets, trade fairs and festivals. Especially the Mercat de música viva de Vic.

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Economy

For centuries, the city's primary industrial and commercial activity was a textile industry, now almost disappeared. Nowadays, the pillars of the economy are agriculture and other alimentary industries, and construction.

The city is famous for its sausages and other pork derivatives, especially fuet, a thin cured sausage. The making of cured sausages and cold meats stems from the Vic plain's long tradition of pig farming.

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