The Sant Francesc church in Montblanc, a 13th-century monument, reopened its doors this Saturday morning following a renovation period of nearly nine months. The works focused on repairing various deficiencies, such as water leaks, and restoring the building's original facade to enhance its heritage value.
During the restoration process, medieval polychrome paintings were discovered on the ceiling's coffered panels. The space will continue to be used as an events hall for concerts and conferences. An initial plan for a Sant Jordi legend interpretation center was ultimately deprioritized in favor of addressing the building's structural issues.
According to the Councilor for Heritage, Oriol Pallissó, several interventions were carried out to return the monument to its initial appearance, removing non-original elements and improving the bell tower, windows with alabaster, and the ceiling. Walls were cleaned, underfloor heating was installed, and water leaks in the adjacent cloister were resolved.
The project's architect, Anna Feu, highlighted the challenge of transforming a 13th-century building into a multipurpose hall while preserving its documentary, architectural, and historical values. The mayor of Montblanc, Marc Vinya, emphasized the importance of respectful use of the restored heritage.
The renovation works, which began in early October, were completed under tight deadlines, despite receiving a three-month extension linked to Next Generation fund subsidies. Over a hundred professionals were involved in these tasks.
The Montblanc City Council has also secured a 75-year free usage concession for the church from the Generalitat de Catalunya, which could potentially allow for the revival of the Sant Jordi legend interpretation center project in the future.
