Medieval Comet (Perhaps), Montblanc, 2018
This gorgeous little village is located in the Tarragona province and is the capital of the comarca (county, roughly) of Conca de Barcerà. You can get there easily by train or bus from Barcelona.
Lots to see here–the medieval town walls are some of the best preserved–and you are not far from the Monastery of Poblet, a UNESCO world heritage site.
For more details, Señora Google is your friend. I’ll let you explore.
Two tips you won’t necessarily find easily with Google, though:
- A wonderful pace to stay is Fonda dels Àngels (Plaça dels Àngels, 1). Their place is beautiful, rooms are spotless and comfortable, and the typical Catalan home cooking is to salivate to death over. Prices for accommodations and food are very reasonable (although ours was an off-season visit).
- For afters, try the Viña Pastisseria just up the street–among many other things, you’ll see some amazingly creative sweets made entirely from chocolate (like fried eggs, Catalan sausage, bread and ham with an olive on top…they all look a lot like the real thing).
Some more “postcards” from our visit…
One of the more scary faces on a local water fountain:
Font, Montblanc, 2018
The unique tilework on the plaza in front of the church, Iglesia de Santa Maria la Mayor (14th century, Gothic):
Suelo, Sta Maria, #3, Montblanc, 2018
It is well worth it to pay the two Euros or so for the climb up to the bell towers of the Santa Maria church. That’s where I saw this image:
Man and Cross, Montblanc, 2018
In a couple of months, the trees will start sprouting their limbs and leaves. For now, things look a bit austere and, well, medieval:
The Tree, Montblanc, 2018
What is sealed inside? Why was it closed off? Does this address have another entrance somewhere?
The Door to Nowhere, Montblanc, 2018
The “House of the Dragon”. Montblanc is ground zero for the Catalan legend of Sant Jordi (Saint George) defeating a dragon to save the beautiful damsel in distress. Come to Montblanc during festival time and you will see lots of dragons, Sant Jordis, and Princesses on the streets. This particular place might be a small, unofficial, club house for kids???
Casa del Drac, Montblanc, 2018
Yeah, I got a bit cliché with this image. How many scenes like this have you come across on European old-town streets?
Market Bound, Montblanc, 2018
That upper “balcony” was probably an entrance with stairs at one time. The wall obviously has a long and storied history cemented into its patchwork of stone:
Tiny Balcony, Montblanc, 2018
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