ABSTRACT
In this chapter, an ethnographic account is provided of how ‘heritage’ has been used in the nationalist and pro-independence movement in Catalonia. Catalan heritage has taken on new significance as a symbol of resistance and separate history in the strained relationship with Spain. The focus here is on sites of historic national memory and the foods associated with these places. It is demonstrated how promoting these foodstuffs under official categories simultaneously allows local actors to assert political will, create heritage, and encourage tourism. The chapter covers issues such as the role of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’ in heritage creation and tourism, the heritage ‘label’ in Catalan cuisine, and heritage as national identity performance.
