Camp de Tarragona

“People say a ferocious and terrible monster rampaged around Montblanc..." So begins one of the fragments of a text taken from the Costumari Català, by Joan Amades, about the legend of Sant Jordi. If you would like to know how the story continues, although you probably already do, don't miss the Medieval Week in Montblanc, and take advantage of your stay to visit the surrounding area!
 
MEDIEVAL WEEK IN MONTBLANC

Montblanc has one of the most beautiful groups of medieval buildings in Catalonia. If you would like to go to the heart of things, don't miss its Medieval Week, held between 23 April and 5 May. It keeps alive the written tradition established by Joan Amades, according to which Sant Jordi killed the dragon in this town. Some main events include the dramatisation of the legend of Sant Jordi, the Dracum Nocte, and the mediaeval market.
 
THE CITY WALLS

Take a walk around Montblanc's city walls, they have been adapted to make such visits easy and so that visitors can find out more about one of Catalonia's best-preserved medieval military structures. The views of the town and its surroundings from the various towers, whose construction was ordered by king Pere III el Cerimoniós, are magnificent.
 
CHURCH OF SANTA MARIA

Also known as the 'Cathedral of the Mountain' on account of its size and its position on the highest level of the municipality, the Church of Santa Maria la Major is another reminder of Montblanc's medieval power. Inside you can see the retable of Sant Bernat and Sant Bernabé, and the Baroque organ, one of the finest in Catalonia.
 
FROM THE CHURCH OF SANT FRANCESC TO THE HERMITAGE OF SANT JOAN

If you would like to walk for a while you could start at the church of Sant Francesc, where the the Municipal Tourist Office is currently located. From here take the Avinguda Manel Ribé and continue along it to the top. When you are at the top, turn right and follow the road to the end where you will find a sign indicating the way to the hermitage. 


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Legend has it that in the Vall d'Oliver valley, at the foot of the Montsant Mountain Range, a shepherd once dreamt of angels that were going up a staircase: Escaladei, the staircase to God. And it was here that the Monastery of Escaladei was founded in 1163, at the request of King Alphonse I, the Chaste, hence creating a place to live for the Carthusian monks of the Sant Bru Order, amid the silence, solitude and nature that surrounded the temple. Would you like to take a walk through the area around this valley of vineyards and olive groves?

CARTOIXA D'ESCALADEI
Today, all that remains of the old Carthusian complex of Escaladei, one of the most important medieval and modern monasteries in Catalonia, are its structures. You can walk around the outside of the 3 cloisters, one of which has been rebuilt, as well as the refectory and a cell that has also been reconstructed. 

17^TH CENTURY WINERIES OF ESCALADEI
The Carhusian Monastery of Escaladei is located in the very heart of the Priorat Region. Hence, this monumental site is surrounded by hundred-year-old vineyards. Some of these vineyards are located on the estates of Cellers d'Scaladei, which sits within the confines of the old grounds of the Carthusian Monastery. If you’d like to taste wines full of history, you definitely won’t want to miss this visit. 
 
CELLERS BUIL GINÉ
Next to Gratallops, a 15-minute drive from the Cellers d'Scaladei winery, is the winery Cellers Buil Giné. This wine producer offers a tour through the outdoor grounds of the estate and the viewpoint and the facilities of the winery, as well as a wine tasting. 

EMBLEMATIC TOWNS OF EL PRIORAT
In addition to the Carthusian Monastery and the vineyards, you will not want to miss Siurana, a fairytale village that has been the backdrop of legends about princesses and warriors; Falset, where you can visit the old castle of the Counts of Prades; and  Porrera, a unique town known for its many sundials, which can be found just about everywhere. 

Check all the information on this outing, which includes accommodations.

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Have you seen the three royal monasteries of Catalonia? Poblet, Santes Creus and Vallbona, three amazing and unique monumental sites, both for their architectural beauty and for their spiritual essence. They are located on the Cistercian Route and you can now visit all three with a single admission pass. The combined ticket, which is valid for a full year, also allows you to visit other museums and monuments in the region.
 
MONASTERY OF SANTES CREUS
You may wish to begin your tour with a visit to the Monastery of Santes Creus, one of the best conserved Cistercian monastic complexes, which accommodated the first group of monks of this religious order in Catalonia. Here you will see the royal tombs of King Peter III of Aragon, King James II and his wife, Blanche of Anjou, as well as that of Admiral Roger of Lauria.
 
MONASTERY OF SANTA MARIA DE POBLET
As the largest monastery of the Cistercian Route and one of the foremost monasteries in Europe, the Monastery of Santa Maria de Poblet  earned its World Heritage status from UNESCO in 1991. Located just a 30-minute drive from the Monastery of Santes Creus, this is a striking architectural site that King Peter II of Aragon converted into the royal pantheon of the dynasty.
 
MONASTERY OF VALLBONA DE LES MONGES
A half hour’s drive from Poblet will bring you to the Monastery of Vallbona de les Monges, the only nuns’ monastery on the Cistercian Route and the only monastery that has accommodated the religious community uninterruptedly —except in times of war— for more than 850 years. This monastery offers visitor lodging  on certain days of the week.
 
The combined admission pass can be purchased at any of the three monasteries, as well as at the Ruta del Cister website. Check conditions here .
 
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We'd like to invite you to find out first hand about the traditional process of making wine and brandy. This was a key economic sector in the development of modern Catalonia.

MUSEUM OF RURAL LIFE

What was it like to be a winemaker a century ago? At the Museum we'll teach you about the techniques and factors used in the process as well as the carts and main machinery: quite a technological breakthrough in winemaking from 100 years ago!

WINE TASTING

We'll test the end result of a job well done by having a guided taste test of the wines of the DO Conca de Barberà, produced with the local variety of drilling.

A VISIT TO THE FASSINA BALANYÀ

Brandy also had a prominent role in the economic activity of this area at the beginning of the 20th century. We'll see this as we go through the Fassina Balanyà, where we'll also be able to taste this spirit made from drilling.

COOPERATIVE WINERY OF L’ESPLUGA DE FRANCOLÍ

The winery at l’Espluga de Francolí was the first cooperative winery set up by a prestigious architect. Pere Domènech i Roura, the son of Lluís Domènech i Montaner, began construction of the “author's wineries” or “wineries of the rich” by managing the works. Our visit will give us a close-up look at the important phenomenon of cooperativism and at the construction of modernist “wine cathedrals”.

A route for the whole family to enjoy which you can choose to end with a fine lunch based on viniculture. If you're bringing children then, while tasting the wines, you can leave them with a monitor who will be leading an activity aimed specifically at the little ones.
 

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