Montblanc, Tarragona 2022-2023
Montblanc is located at the foot of the small mountain known as Plà de Santa Bàrbara, near the junction of the Francolí and Anguera rivers, in the south of Tarragona, Catalonia.
The territory of the municipality of Montblanch is made up of three well-differentiated areas: the Miramar mountain range to the east and southeast, the Prades mountains to the west and southwest, and the lowlands of the Francolí river basin found in the central strip, going from north to south of the term. Precisely, these mountains are within two areas Plan of Spaces of Natural Interest (PEIN), protected by Catalan legislation for their high natural value.
Its old part of the town is about 350m above sea level, but the highest point in the municipality is Mola d'Estat (1,126m). The municipal term is limited by the Sierra de Prenafeta and the Prades Mountains. Its history is vast, dating back to before the Middle Ages. At the beginning of the 11th century, a town known as Duesaigües was founded where the Anguera and Francolí rivers met and in the 12th century, Count Ramón Berenguer IV granted it tax-free licenses. However, the continuous floods and the need to have a fortification on the road from Lérida to Tarragona, decided King Alfonso II to move the population to a small hill near there and thus Montblanch was born, in February of the year 1163. The The town grew rapidly and by the year 1170 the castle and a small Romanesque church dedicated to Santa María were already documented, and the Market district appeared, with commercial activities.
During the 13th century, Montblanch grew thanks to new royal privileges and the granting of cattle markets and fairs. It is considered that its peak occurred in the 14th century when it became the seventh city in Catalonia by number of inhabitants, after Barcelona, Lleida, Tortosa, Gerona, Tarragona and Puigcerdá, and a town with significant economic weight. At this time the most important works of the town are built; the wall (with 31 towers and 5 gates), the church of Santa María, the hospital of San Marcial and the Palacio de los Alenyà and, in addition, the Riuot stream, which runs through the center of the town, was covered and mills were built, bridges, prison, etc.
However, the War of the Harvesters, the War of Succession and the War of Independence damaged the condition of the Villa; but the population was recovering rapidly in the mid-nineteenth century with artisans and farmers growing the vine. In addition, there was a demographic and commercial explosion with the arrival of roads to Valls (1821) and Reus (1843) with the arrival of the train in 1863.
Montblac also celebrates the festival of the giants, which is why we have carried out a cultural exchange with the Amics dels Gegants de Montblanc group in Tarragona. The first stage of this exchange was the artistic tour to Montblanc in May 2022 and the second part of this exchange will include the visit of Montblanc artists to Aserrí in August 2023.
Tour to Montblanc, 2022
From May 7 to 20, 2022, we were invited by the Amics dels Gegants de Montblanc group and by the local City Council, to present ourselves in said community, on the occasion of the Major Festival of its Patron Saint Sant Matías, a millenary celebration.
Our Tour was declared of Cultural Interest by the Ministry of Culture and the Presidency of the Republic, according to Executive Agreement 14-C of January 25, 2022.
Our delegation had a total of 33 artists, who focused on two types of shows: the theatrical and musical work "Al Sabor del Folklore tico" and the parades. Both shows include our groups: "La Mascarada de mi pueblo", "La Cimarrona de mi tierra", "Bailongueando" and "Son Sib Ö".
The challenge was enormous, especially considering what had been done 6 years earlier, by the Associació Amics dels Gegants i Capgrossos de Torroella de Montgrí; however, the evaluation of our participation far exceeded our expectations.
In this way, we participate in parades in the cities of Montblanc on the occasion of the Major Festival and the Twenty-seventh International Meeting of Giants and San Boi de Llobregat, in the "Ciutat Gegantera de Catalunya 2022", which is the most important giant festival in Catalonia.
For its part, "Al Sabor del folclore tico" was presented in the old church of Sant Francesc, repeating the same, days later in a private presentation for both groups and the authorities of the City Council, in the cloister of the same name.
Additionally, we had the honor of holding workshops on our traditions at the Col·legi Les Muralles and Mare de Déu de la Serra schools. Also, our musicians were invited to play with the Montblanc Municipal Band at the Fiesta Mayor, visit the house of the renowned cellist Paul Casals i Defilló and even our trumpeter, maestro Rafael Chaves Torres, gave a couple of master classes to children and young people. of the Municipal School of Music of Montblanc.
Similarly, we were the object of several tributes by the Parliament of Catalonia, the Montblanc City Council, the organizers of the activities and interviews in the Nova Conca newspaper and Radio Montblanc.
We share some photographs of these activities: