There are many shawms throughout the world (many of them in the Middle East and Asia) but Catalonia is one of the few places in Europe where they are still frequently used, and the only place where they have been given a modern mechanism (keywork) like orchestral woodwind instruments. Shawms used to be widespread in Europe up into the Renaissance.
While shawms exist globally, including many in the Middle East and Asia, Catalonia is one of the few places in Europe where they are still commonly used, and it's the only place where they have been equipped with a modern mechanism like orchestral woodwind instruments. Shawms were once common throughout Europe until the Renaissance.