Salou. Costa Dorada. 25 August 2025.
In September, summer is not yet over and there is much to enjoy, especially in Salou. From 3 to 7 September 2025, the capital of the Costa Dorada celebrates the King Jaume I Festival, which commemorates the departure of King Jaume I from the Port of Salou to the conquest of Mallorca. During these days, various cultural, sports and recreational activities will remember that historical moment with the Medieval Market, the historical recreation of the real outing, conferences, workshops and a regatta, among other events.
One of the busiest is the Medieval Market that will be held every day of the festivities, from 4 to 7 September 2025. It will be located in the Plaza Bonet and the streets of the old town, conveniently set. From 10.30 am to 11 pm, every day, you can enjoy crafts, children's games, workshops of traditional trades and a medieval camp. The opening proclamation and parade is on September 4, 2025 at 11 a.m.
In addition, there will be itinerant shows of minstrels, bullfighters, and knights; Suru, the elephant of the conquest; archery; workshops and children's play areas; bullfighters, scurfers and other characters that will fill the Medieval Market area with music, dance and fun. At the end of the news, consult the pdf with the complete program of the Medieval Market of Salou.
Another notable activity is sport. From 10 to 12 September 2025 will take place the XXXIX King Jaume I Race, which pays tribute to the historic crossing of James I with his ships to the conquest of Mallorca. The regatta runs in Catalan and Balearic waters and will gather boats from different nautical clubs. The Yacht Club of Salou is the organizer of this event.
On Wednesday, September 3, 2025, at 6 p.m., in the Sala Costa Dorada of the Civic Center (Barga Gallego Street, no. 2), the conference "Jaume I: the challenge of 1229 and the election of Salou" will be offered, by the doctor in History of Art, Esther Lozano, who will expose the decisions of the king that changed the history and made Salou the center of this historical moment.
On Saturday, September 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Plaza del Carrilet, a children's workshop on the figure of King Jaume I.
The same Saturday, at 12 noon, in the Sala Costa Daurada of the Civic Center (Letter Advocat Gallego, no. 2), talk “Jaume I: the military gestures that built the Mediterranean empire” by historians David Barrera and Cristina Duran, also authors of the book “Jaume I el Conquistador. The military exploits that built the Mediterranean empire, which reviews the military exploits of the monarch who turned the Crown of Aragon into a Mediterranean power and transformed the political map of the European Middle Ages. Organized by the Cultural and Esbarjo Jaume I Association.
Also on September 6, 2025, the departure of King Jaume I and his troops from Salou to conquer Mallorca will be revived. This historical recreation is the height of the festival. At 7 p.m., from the Plaza del Teatro Auditorio de Salou (TAS) will leave the entourage that accompanies the king, only 21 years old, made the Port of Salou.Knights, nobles, pawns, ecclesiastics, doctors, ladies, cooks, blacksmiths, barbers, farmers, among other characters, form the courtship that will leave in the direction of the Torre Vella and from there, at 20 h, will tour the main streets of Salou (Via Aurèlia, Via Roma, Barcelona street, Jaume I promenade) to the Plaza de las Comunitats Autònomes where the exhibitions of all the groups of animation and the final show will take place.
On Sunday, September 7, at 12 noon, in the Sala Costa Dorada of the Civic Center (Barga Gallego Street, no. 2), the literary awards "Short stories Jaume I", organized by the Cultural and Esbarjo Jaume I Association of Salou.
On September 4 and 5, at 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., in the Torre Vella de Salou, you can enjoy the show "L'Hostal d'e Bernat" by the group Quico, Célio, the Boy and Mut de Ferreries. The price of early entry is 10 euros, and can be purchased at salou.koobin.cat.
From September 3 to 19, 2025, in the Auditorium Theater of Salou you can visit the exhibition "A challenge for a king. A port for a conquest: Salou, 1229", by the art historian Esther Lozano, a proposal to make visitors enjoy the medieval era beyond clichés.
For its part, the Association Group of Women of Salou encourages all salouenses who want to sewing their own costume for the party of King Jaume I. Interested people can contact by email grupdedonesdesalou'gmail.com.
In addition, throughout the year you can enjoy the history of Salou playing with the digital gymkhana. It is an experience to travel 1.8 km from Salou visiting the most emblematic spaces, overcoming challenges and enigmas through the mobile, with a total duration of about 75 minutes.
Finally, between March and October free guided tours are offered to the historical sites of Kal·lípolis (iber) and the Roman Villa of Barenys. They are free visits of approximately 1 hour in Catalan and Spanish, the first weekend of each month. Prior registration is required at https://salou.reservaplay.cat/.
The Feast of King Jaume I, a reminder of a historic event celebrated throughout Europe
With the celebration of the Feast of King Jaume I, Salou commemorates a historic event of great significance for the Crown of Catalunya and Aragó, but also for the Iberian Peninsula and for Europe, since Mallorca was a hotbed of Muslim piracy that ravaged the Mediterranean.
After the courts approved the military initiative in December 1228, on September 5, 1229, more than 150 ships of King Jaume I set sail from the natural port of Salou, one of the most important at that time, and also from Cambrils and Tarragona.
After 3 months of siege, Mallorca finally fell into the hands of King Jaume I in December 1229. This triumph was widely celebrated in Europe for putting an end to the existing enclave of piracy, and in Mallorca for its liberation. Furthermore, the military feat also allowed the expansion of the Crown of Catalunya and Aragó towards the Mediterranean.
