Montgons, depopulated Tarragona

Hidden among the warehouses of the Riuclar industrial estate, surrounded by the A-27 and A-7 highways – in one of the areas with the greatest industrial presence in Tarragona – and covered in weeds, we find, sleeping the sleep of the righteous, the remains of the abandoned village of Montgons. Without a path to lead us, without any physical signage to indicate where we are and much less what we can find.

Documented in the 12th century, although with Roman and perhaps older sites in its area, the Montgons had a castle, church, a set of houses and other agricultural constructions quite common in the Camp de Tarragona of that time. The Timor were its first lords, although it was later acquired by the archbishop of Tarragona. Moment that meant the beginning of its integration into the area of the capital and, towards the 16th century, except for the depopulation.

Nowadays, only the remains of the castle and the church are visible, as well as some perimeter walls of the houses or the rock-cut buildings. We can decipher the prominent position of the former thanks to the ruins located on the small hill that dominates the old village. Although the rubble we found does not allow us to define beyond a possible perimeter and confirm that the fortified element or castral remained in that place.

As for the church, it was dedicated to Saint Julian. It acted as the parish church of the area and is surely the best preserved building in the entire uninhabited area. However, its state of deterioration is very high. On the main façade there is only the mark of what would have once been an access door that was stolen from the site. A Romanesque building, dating from between the end of the 12th century and the beginning of the 13th century, greatly modified inside to house a house, which was surely active until the 20th century.

Regarding the houses, what may draw the most attention is the use of caves and grottos to become rooms. Elements of rock architecture not very common in the Camp and that deserve a study.

It may seem that the Montgons have already finished their history, but their stubborn remains are still among us. That is why neighborhood movements and the Platform Save the Montgons of Tarragona demand their conservation and study. To be able to know more about this small point of the Campo that surely still hides much to discover.