Montclar d'Urgell

Montclar d'Urgell is a village in the province of Lleida, in Catalonia, Spain. The village and its surrounding area previously formed its own municipality, but it is now (since 1970) an exclave of Agramunt. It is also an exclave of the comarca of Urgell, lying within the comarca of Noguera. The village is located on the crest of the Montclar mountain range, that crosses out from east to west. The Urgell canal passes through crossing the Montclar range through a tunnel. Montclar is linked by road to the local C-14 between Artesa de Segre and Agramunt.Interesting placesMontclar CastleThe majestic Montclar Castle presided over the town that bears his name. The castle is built on the remains of an old Roman tower keep. The castle is documented from the year 981, making it the oldest in the area. Inside you can still see part of the wall of the tower from tribute century Roman II. Most of the first floor of the present castle was built in the thirteenth century. And the upper floors were remodeled after the Christian reconquest and currently show an elegant architecture of the Catalan Renaissance, dating from the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. The castle was restored in 1970, was declared a national Historic Monument in 1979 and is now open to visitors. Only six families have owned the Montclar castle from the Christian reconquest: the Tost (until 1067), the Cabrera (1067-1179), the Ribelles (1179-1418), the Pons (1418-1689), the Despujol (1689-1986) and Miguel (1986 to present).Church of St. JamesThe parish church is dedicated to St. James. Built in the seventeenth century Baroque style. The building is of stone, has a six altar and side altars. One feature that makes it unique are the two hearts that unlike all the churches in which they are placed one on each side, they are placed one above the other. The heart only accessible from above the castle and allowed nobles saw mass without mixing with the lower classes. Currently there is still celebrating Mass every Sunday.