Montblanc is the walled town most Barcelona visitors have never heard of, and that is the point: no tour coaches, a mile of medieval wall and the gate where Saint George is said to have killed the dragon. Montblanc is a walled medieval town in the Conca de Barberà wine country, 115 km west of Barcelona, with 14th-century walls and around thirty towers. It takes about 85 minutes by car, or a regional train with one change at La Plana-Picamoixons. Pick your day first: the walls close on Monday and Tuesday.
Is Montblanc worth a day trip from Barcelona? Yes, between Wednesday and Saturday. The walls open from 10 am to 2 pm and 4 to 6 pm for €3, the guided tour leaves daily at 11 am for €10, and the station is a five-minute walk from the walls. Avoid Monday and Tuesday, when the walls are shut.
Is Montblanc worth the trip?
It suits you if you like medieval towns and want one you can see in a day without crowds. The wall walk, the two churches and the main square fill a morning; the afternoon is for lunch, the second wall session or the rooftop of Santa Maria.
It is less of a fit if you want a car-free trip with no change of train, or if your only free day is a Monday. For a closer medieval village, Rupit and the other medieval villages in inland Catalonia are good alternatives, and Cardona combines a castle with a salt mountain.
How to get there from Barcelona
- Train: regional trains from Sants, Passeig de Gràcia and Estació de França run to La Plana-Picamoixons, where you change for Montblanc. This autumn the 7:30 am from Sants arrives at 10:14, the 12:03 pm at 2:14 pm and the 3 pm at 5:14 pm.
- Coming back: trains leave Montblanc at 4:21 pm, arriving at Sants at 6:10 pm, and at 6:47 pm, arriving at 8:40 pm. Check the day’s timetable before you go, as works can change it.
- From the station: the Portal de Sant Francesc, the gate up to the walls, is 301 metres away.
- By car: about 85 minutes and 115 km from central Barcelona. There is also a direct bus; check the timetable with the operator.
For other trips that work without a car, see Catalonia without a car and day trips from Barcelona by train.
Which day to go
Wednesday to Saturday are full days. Saturday adds the nativity museum, which opens only at weekends and on holidays. On Sunday the walls and most sights close at 2 pm, and Santa Maria church opens for just one hour.
What you pay
| Ticket | Price | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Town walls | €3, reduced €1.50 | Free for under-14s; closed in bad weather |
| Guided tour | €10, reduced €8 | Free up to age 13; every day at 11 am, 2 hours |
| Santa Maria church | €1, rooftop €2 | Closed during mass |
| Museu Comarcal plus CIAR and Marès museum | €5 combined | €8 if bought separately |
| Nativity museum | €4 | Saturdays and holidays only |
| Santa Magdalena hospital and La Serra sanctuary | Free | Hospital on weekdays only |
Who gets a reduced or free ticket
Reduced prices apply to youth hostel card holders, large and single-parent families and people with a disability of 33 % or more. Entry is free for people with a disability of 65 % or more and one companion. You show proof at the tourist office before buying.
The guided tour, and the language question
The main tour leaves the tourist office, opposite the Catedral del Vi on Muralla de Santa Tecla, every day at 11 am. In two hours it covers Santa Maria, Sant Miquel, the old hospital, the walls and the Portal de Sant Jordi, and it is the only way into Sant Miquel, whose wooden ceiling is painted with dragons, griffins, mermaids and knights.
The catch for visitors is language: the tour runs in Catalan, and Spanish or French have to be requested in advance on +34 977 861 733. Tickets are bought ahead, and if none have been sold an hour before, the tour is cancelled. There is no tour on 24, 25, 26 and 31 December.
Saint George and the dragon
At the Portal de Sant Jordi, local legend places Saint George’s fight with the dragon, which is why Montblanc makes so much of Sant Jordi week in April. It is the stop children remember, and it is free: the gate is part of the town, not a ticketed site.
If you are there in late January, the town is close to Valls, home of the calçot onion feast; see where to eat calçots near Barcelona. Wine lovers can join it to the Penedès, Priorat and Terra Alta wine route.
When to skip it
- Monday and Tuesday: the walls are closed.
- Sunday afternoon: the walls close at 2 pm.
- 9 to 23 December: the walls are closed, though the town is open.
- Rain or high wind: the walls do not open.
- If you want the sea too: Tarragona has Roman ruins and a direct train.
Frequently asked questions about Montblanc
Is Montblanc worth a day trip from Barcelona?
Yes, if you go between Wednesday and Saturday. That is when you can walk the 14th-century walls morning and afternoon, see Santa Maria and Sant Miquel churches and join the 11 am guided tour. On Monday and Tuesday the walls are closed.
How do I get to Montblanc from Barcelona by train?
Take the regional train from Sants, Passeig de Gràcia or Estació de França and change at La Plana-Picamoixons. This autumn the 7:30 am from Sants reaches Montblanc at 10:14, and trains back leave at 4:21 pm and 6:47 pm.
How much does it cost to visit Montblanc?
Walking the town is free. The walls cost €3, Santa Maria church €1 plus €2 for the rooftop, and the guided tour €10. Children under 14 enter the walls free and the tour is free up to age 13.
Are there guided tours of Montblanc in English?
The daily tour runs in Catalan, and Spanish or French can be requested in advance from the tourist office on +34 977 861 733. If you do not speak either, walk the walls on your own and use the free entry spots.
When are the Montblanc walls closed?
Every Monday and Tuesday, Sunday and holiday afternoons, from 9 to 23 December and in bad weather. On Sundays and holidays they open only from 10 am to 2 pm.
Go between Wednesday and Saturday, take the 7:30 am train, and Montblanc fills the day.