Montblanc

Montblanc is the capital of the Conca de Barberà region of Tarragona. Its urban nucleus is located to the south of the region where the Francolí and Anguera rivers converge, at the foot of the Pla de Santa Bàrbara. Montblanc, then, is about 350 meters above sea level, although the highest point in its municipal area is 1,126 meters, the top of the Mola d'Estat. It limits with the Sierra Carbonària and the Prades Mountains.

The municipal term of Montblanc is formed by the aggregates of the Guard of Els Prats, Lilla, Prenafeta, Rojals and el Pinetell, and the villages of Bartra, Rojalons, els Cogullons and Barceloneta.

The history of Montblanc goes back to 1163 when Alfonso I granted the population charter to Pere Berenguer de Vilafranca. The population grew rapidly and Montblanc became an important town. They are showing the walled enclosure of about 1,500 meters, formed by about thirty battlement towers. The wall dates from the 14th century and its construction was ordered by Pere III el Ceremoniós, on the occasion of the war against Pere el Cruel de Castilla. In the past there were 4 entrance portals to the town, of which today only the Sant Jordi portal and the Bové portal remain original. The most outstanding element of the wall is the Baluarte de Santa Anna, located at its highest point. One of the sections of the wall with the best perspective is known by the name of Foradot since it is located in front of a large esplanade. At this point, the representation of the Legend of Sant Jordi is currently held during the Montblanc Medieval Week. According to the Costumari Català by Joan Amades, it is in Montblanc where the fight between the knight Sant Jordi and the dragon took place.

In addition to the walled enclosure, it is also worth noting the church of Santa María la Mayor, also known as the Cathedral of the Mountain, an impressive Gothic church that began to be built at the beginning of the 14th century and which was left incomplete due to the Black Death. During the Guerra dels Segadores it was damaged and its façade was rebuilt in the 17th century, in a Baroque style.