Medieval Week in Montblanc

A few days ago, Sant Jordi was celebrated in Catalonia. It comes from a legend about a knight who killed a dragon that was terrorizing a town, and from the dragon’s blood a red rose grew, which the knight then gave to the princess. That’s why it’s considered the equivalent of Valentine’s Day in this part of the world.

While the streets of Barcelona are packed with people visiting Casa Batlló or buying roses to give as gifts, there are nearby towns with much more interesting activities. One of them is Montblanc, in Tarragona, where they hold the Medieval Week of Sant Jordi, which is excellent

Just 90 minutes from central Barcelona by car, this town is exactly what you’d expect from a medieval village: walled city, a cathedral, stone streets, and a great atmosphere

The first thing I did when I arrived was head to a food stall in the town center, where I ordered a jug of vermouth and a grilled pork platter. I ate alongside Catalan families enjoying a beautiful Sunday in April, many of them dressed in medieval clothing

Then I visited the incredible Church of Santa Maria, wandered through its streets full of craft stalls, took a nap in the shade of the walls, and ended the day climbing its towers and taking in the views of the surrounding area

All in all, just a lovely spring Sunday near the Mediterranean