Catalan Countries

Catalan Països Catalans) refers to a national concept that includes all countries where the Catalan language is spoken under a single Pan-Catalan nation. A large, very vocal minority of the inhabitants of the Catalan Countries fervently believe in this concept.

The term is primarily used by those who want independence for Catalan countries. This concept first appeared in a book by Valencian intellectual Joan Fuster, Nosaltres els valencians (1962).

Catalonia (cat. Catalunya or Principat de Catalunya) constitutes the original nucleus and the most important and extensive territory of Catalan language and culture. The neighbouring Valencia region (Catalan: València), the Balearic Islands (Catalan: Illes Balears), Andorra in the Pyrenees, an adjacent area of Aragon (informally referred to as la Franja de Ponent) and Roussillon (cat. Roselló or La Catalunya Nord) are closely associated with Catalonia historically and linguistically. The term is either embraced or resented in these regions.

This territory does not coincide exactly with the places where Catalan is spoken. For example, in the north-western region of Catalonia known as Val d'Aran, a dialect of Occitan is spoken. And in some western and south-western places in the Valencian Country, Spanish is spoken. However, there are also some Catalan-speaking places outside the Catalan Countries, such as El Carxe in Murcia and the city of Alghero (L'Alguer) on the island of Sardinia.