Free walking tours in Montblanc and what to see

Must-sees

Montblanc is the capital of the Conca de Barberà and keeps one of the most complete medieval walled towns in Catalonia. You can walk much of its walls and enter through the Portal de Bover. Inside, the church of Santa Maria dominates the town from the top, with a Baroque façade and a Gothic interior. From its esplanade you get good views over the area.

The sober Gothic church of Sant Miquel hosted meetings of the Catalan Courts. Nearby are the Plaça Major, the old Santa Magdalena hospital and the Museu Comarcal. Montblanc places the legend of Saint George and the dragon within its walls, recalled every year during the Medieval Week. A few kilometres away is the Poblet monastery, a World Heritage Site.

Free tours and guided visits

Free walking tours are uncommon, but the tourist office runs guided tours of the walled town explaining the history of the walls, the churches and the Saint George legend. The most recommended visit in the surroundings is the guided tour of the Poblet monastery. If you have more time, follow the Cistercian Route to Santes Creus and Vallbona de les Monges. There are also visits to Conca de Barberà wineries.

How long to spend

You need half a day for the walled town. If you add Poblet, give it a full day: the morning in Montblanc and the afternoon at the monastery. With two days you can do the whole Cistercian Route or combine Poblet with a local winery. If you coincide with the Medieval Week in April, the town is much livelier.

Where to stay

The best option is to stay inside the walls. The walled town is small and from anywhere you can walk to the churches, the square and the restaurants. At night the town is quiet. In the surroundings there are rural cottages and places to stay among vineyards, useful if you are driving the Cistercian Route. Montblanc has a railway station, although services are limited.