Hello and welcome to the Xerta limnimeter.
This tile reproduction represents a limnimeter, which metrically records the different water levels reached by the Ebro River floods that Xerta has suffered since the 17th century.
The biggest flood occurred on October 9, 1787. On that occasion, the river overflowed its banks after reaching a volume that exceeded the usual 10 meters. The town’s people had to leave their homes and belongings. There were 29 casualties, and 110 houses crumbled down. In such an ordeal, people headed to the hermitage that used to stand on Pla de Sant Martí and invoked the saint to free them from that misfortune. Chronicles tell that on October 11, just one month before Saint Martin de Tours feast day, the waters began to abate surprisingly, and the people were freed from the flood. The town, in gratitude, declared Sant Martí patron saint of Xerta, and that is why on November 11 the annual Festa Major is still celebrated in his glory and honour.
Other major and more recent floods are those of October 29, 1937 and January 4, 1961, where part of the town was also completely flooded. Elderly people recall that the streets could only be “walked” by boat.
Now, if possible, enter the church and listen to the next track.