La Bassa de Calaceite: History and Present

La Bassa de Calaceite is more than a simple pond; it is a living testament to the history and resilience of the community. Built on an impressive scale, this bassa is a magnificent example of traditional Matarraña architecture, designed for the crucial collection of rainwater on the outskirts of the village. Its function was vital: from supplying water for the population and animals to fish farming, profoundly shaping everyday life throughout the centuries.

Throughout its existence, La Bassa has been known by various names, reflecting its changing importance: the ”Bassa del Coll”, the ”Bassa Bona” and, finally, simply ”la Bassa”. This evolution took place not only in its name but also in its purpose. Today, this historic space has been transformed into a vibrant multifunctional centre hosting play areas, the municipal swimming pool and the sports complex, integrating perfectly into the contemporary life of Calaceite.

Adjacent to La Bassa stands the Plaza de la Diputación, a space that pays tribute to another fundamental pillar of the Matarraña’s economy and culture: the olive tree. An imposing stone monument, dedicated to the olive tree and the oil industry, rises in the square, symbolising the historical and present-day importance of oil production in the area. The interconnection of La Bassa with this tribute underlines how traditional constructions can adapt and remain relevant, narrating the rich history of a community deeply rooted in its land and traditions.

Bassas are traditional constructions that were usually located on the outskirts of the village and collected rainwater to supply the population. This bassa stands out from the others in the comarca for its large dimensions. It collected rainwater from the cerro de San Cristóbal through a long channel.

It has had several names. In the oldest documentation, the earliest known written reference dates from 1558, where it is called la Bassa del Coll, owing to its orographic position in a saddle between hills, and also la Bassa Bona (Good), in contrast to the other pond in the village known as la Bassa Podrida because it collected dirty water from the streets. From the 19th century onwards it simply came to be known as la Bassa, a name also popularly given to the Plaza de la Diputación, located beside it.

La Bassa was used to supply water to the population and the nearby tile works, one of which is already documented at the beginning of the 17th century and which gave its name to the street where it stood. In addition, livestock and working animals drank from the Bassa, fish were raised there, and in more recent times one of the two public washhouses and a drinking trough for animals were installed here until the construction of the municipal swimming pools in the early 1970s (20th century).

At one end, where the sports complex now stands, was the Rebassa where the waste from cleaning the Bassa was deposited. Moreover, above the Molí de la Vila there was also another pond that collected rainwater from the hillock of the castle where the upper part of the village was located.