"Montblanc & Medieval Week of Sant Jordi. Named Montblanc (White Mountain), originally due
"Montblanc & Medieval Week of Sant Jordi. Named Montblanc (White Mountain), originally due to a lack of green vegetation, the town today, set amidst lush vineyards and abundant fields, can only be compared to a fairy tale kingdom. Built on top of a hill in the XI century as a safeguard against flooding from the nearby rivers, Montblanc maintains its old world atmosphere within high medieval walls.
According to the Catalan historian, Joan Amades, the walls of Montblanc are the origin of Catalunya's most famous legend of Sant Jordi, celebrated throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April. The story tells how a wicked dragon from a nearby lake terrorized the village, devouring all the farm animals until there were none left. The dragon then demanded one of the villagers on condition that he would then vacate the town. The villagers agreed, drew lots, and the King's daughter was selected as the sacrificial victim. Only minutes before the princess, dressed in white, was about to be eaten by the dragon, a young knight appeared on horseback, speared the dragon with his sword and saved the princess. Where the dragon fell, a rose bush appeared with red roses the colour of the dragon's blood. The knight plucked a rose and gave it to the princess before riding off out of the gates and into the sunset.
To commemorate this legend, on the day of Saint Jordi, men traditionally give women a rose while the women give the men a book. Although this might seem slightly unfair, the atmosphere throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April can not help but impress. The epicentre of this festive activity is, of course, at Montblanc where the party lasts an entire week. From the 22nd to the 30th April, Setmana Medieval livens up the streets of Montblanc in a whirl of colourful events. The shebang starts up in true Mediterranean style when a Medieval Feast is held at the convent of St. Francesc. A scrumptious menu is guaranteed to whet any appetite, the only condition being that all dinner guests must wear traditional costume.
The winding streets of Montblanc are converted into a real life theatre as over three hundred actors participate in scenes from daily medieval life. Events include fighting underneath the city walls, Jewish merchants and money lenders in the Jewish Quarters, the coronation of the King at his Court and all the local craftsmen at work. Throughout the day there is also a juggling competition that anyone can enter for free. The figure of the Juggler in Medieval times was considered an entertainer as well as a story teller who often brought important information from other parts of the country. Juggling routines can be performed alone or in a group and last between fifteen and thirty minutes. Fire, music and light are combined in a series of blazing outdoor bangs in the "Resurrection of the Dragon," on 28th April in Plaça de Sant Francesc. Dragons, witches and ghouls liven up the evening atmosphere which, according to the council of Montblanc, is certain to incite all kinds of sinful behaviour. Alcoholic Dragon's Blood is on sale all night in the church. A medieval market animates the historic centre of Montblanc on Saturday and Sunday as crafts, traditional food products and street performers and a Slave Auction hold centre court.
The market has existed in Montblanc since 1281 when merchants displayed their wares on the ground, in different types of baskets, selling vegetables, fruit, oil, salt, cheese, honey, herbs and also ice which came from ice wells from the surrounding areas. The most magical moment awaits over three thousand spectators on Saturday at Passeig Conangla when a theatrical representation of the Legend of Sant Jordi is acted out in a truly authentic style as the actors are chosen every year from the Montblanc townsfolk. The only prerequisite stipulated is that all girls trying out for the Princess must be eighteen, while all prospective Sant Jordis must be twenty one."
Modified text from Genevieve Shaw's original, freelance journalist who lives in Catalonia.
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"Montblanc & Medieval Week of Sant Jordi. Named Montblanc (White Mountain), originally du
"Montblanc & Medieval Week of Sant Jordi. Named Montblanc (White Mountain), originally due to a lack of green vegetation, the town today, set amidst lush vineyards and abundant fields, can only be compared to a fairy tale kingdom. Built on top of a hill in the XI century as a safeguard against flooding from the nearby rivers, Montblanc maintains its old world atmosphere within high medieval walls.
According to the Catalan historian, Joan Amades, the walls of Montblanc are the origin of Catalunya's most famous legend of Sant Jordi, celebrated throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April. The story tells how a wicked dragon from a nearby lake terrorized the village, devouring all the farm animals until there were none left. The dragon then demanded one of the villagers on condition that he would then vacate the town. The villagers agreed, drew lots, and the King's daughter was selected as the sacrificial victim. Only minutes before the princess, dressed in white, was about to be eaten by the dragon, a young knight appeared on horseback, speared the dragon with his sword and saved the princess. Where the dragon fell, a rose bush appeared with red roses the colour of the dragon's blood. The knight plucked a rose and gave it to the princess before riding off out of the gates and into the sunset.
To commemorate this legend, on the day of Saint Jordi, men traditionally give women a rose while the women give the men a book. Although this might seem slightly unfair, the atmosphere throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April can not help but impress. The epicentre of this festive activity is, of course, at Montblanc where the party lasts an entire week. From the 22nd to the 30th April, Setmana Medieval livens up the streets of Montblanc in a whirl of colourful events. The shebang starts up in true Mediterranean style when a Medieval Feast is held at the convent of St. Francesc. A scrumptious menu is guaranteed to whet any appetite, the only condition being that all dinner guests must wear traditional costume.
The winding streets of Montblanc are converted into a real life theatre as over three hundred actors participate in scenes from daily medieval life. Events include fighting underneath the city walls, Jewish merchants and money lenders in the Jewish Quarters, the coronation of the King at his Court and all the local craftsmen at work. Throughout the day there is also a juggling competition that anyone can enter for free. The figure of the Juggler in Medieval times was considered an entertainer as well as a story teller who often brought important information from other parts of the country. Juggling routines can be performed alone or in a group and last between fifteen and thirty minutes. Fire, music and light are combined in a series of blazing outdoor bangs in the "Resurrection of the Dragon," on 28th April in Plaça de Sant Francesc. Dragons, witches and ghouls liven up the evening atmosphere which, according to the council of Montblanc, is certain to incite all kinds of sinful behaviour. Alcoholic Dragon's Blood is on sale all night in the church. A medieval market animates the historic centre of Montblanc on Saturday and Sunday as crafts, traditional food products and street performers and a Slave Auction hold centre court.
The market has existed in Montblanc since 1281 when merchants displayed their wares on the ground, in different types of baskets, selling vegetables, fruit, oil, salt, cheese, honey, herbs and also ice which came from ice wells from the surrounding areas. The most magical moment awaits over three thousand spectators on Saturday at Passeig Conangla when a theatrical representation of the Legend of Sant Jordi is acted out in a truly authentic style as the actors are chosen every year from the Montblanc townsfolk. The only prerequisite stipulated is that all girls trying out for the Princess must be eighteen, while all prospective Sant Jordis must be twenty one."
Modified text from Genevieve Shaw's original, freelance journalist who lives in Catalonia.
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Furious Baco is a roller coaster which opened in PortAventura in May 2007. It is an accele
Furious Baco is a roller coaster which opened in PortAventura in May 2007. It is an accelerator roller coaster. The fastest roller coaster in Europe at 135km/h, which the ride will reach in 3.5 seconds.
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Panoramic view from Matagalls Xic in Montseny Natural Park over northeastern Catalonia (ea
Panoramic view from Matagalls Xic in Montseny Natural Park over northeastern Catalonia (eastern Pyrenees, Collsacabra and Guilleries).
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VILANOVA DE LA BARCA (Segre front in western Catalonia). One of TS Soviet tanks sending fr
VILANOVA DE LA BARCA (Segre front in western Catalonia). One of TS Soviet tanks sending from URSS to the betrayed democratic republican government. They were used to defend the interests of the popular republican army during the war. Vilanova de la Barca, strategically situated next to Segre river, was totally distroyed during the siege of fascist troops and the bombing of the weak republican positions (august 1938). After the war, the village was rebuilt. Actually this old tank represents the last vestige of the war and is situated in an small place called Plaça de la Pau (Peace Square). The wish of people who acutually live in this place and Catalan people is written on a commemorative note: "No oblideu cap nom. Caldrà fer memòria per no repetir el pas d'una història" (Don't forget their names, we should make memory if we don't want to repeat a step of one history) Lluís Llach, Catalan singer.
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The "el Tossal de Déu" elevation, known from May 1938 as "El Merengue" in Segre front (nea
The "el Tossal de Déu" elevation, known from May 1938 as "El Merengue" in Segre front (near Camarasa) , was one of the defensive elements in so-called "Merengue Defensive Line", which extended from Masia Botet to (Cal Massagué) to Merengue itself. Its defense was vital for the National fascist troops, while for the Republicans who unsuccesfully mounted attack after attack it was an obstacle full of dangers and pitfalls. The fascists troops held their position. The failed Republican attack ended with a tragic loss of human life. 26th or 27th May 1938, at night, the last sourrounded republican unit was executed by fascists troops. 170-180 republican soldiers died.
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