Montmeló

A long timeline in a small place

The first written reference to Montmeló is usually dated to the year 945. It mentions a figure called Radulf, a judge of Montis Molonis, who granted land to the monastery of Sant Pere de les Puelles. More than a thousand years later, the name of the town appears in news broadcasts around the world for a very different reason: Formula 1 cars racing at the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya.

Between those two moments lies a small municipality in the Vallès Oriental that still reflects different periods of its past. There are Roman remains on nearby hills, medieval hermitages scattered across the landscape, and a setting that for centuries functioned as a natural corridor between Barcelona and Girona. That sense of movement and connection has shaped Montmeló’s identity from early times to the present.

From Roman settlement to the Circuit

A short distance from the town centre, the hill of Can Tacó preserves remains of a Roman establishment dating from the Republican period. Sections of wall are still visible, along with cisterns cut into the ground to collect water running down the slope. Excavations have also uncovered fragments of geometric wall painting. The site overlooks the Vallès corridor, a position that helps explain its original purpose as a point of control along the route between the coast and inland territories.

Elsewhere in the surrounding area, traces of Roman agricultural activity have been identified. In the area of Can Massot, construction elements and materials suggest the existence of a villa linked to farming and trade along the ancient route that connected Barcino, present-day Barcelona, with the interior. Today, several of these locations are linked by signposted paths that cross the low hills around the town, offering a way to follow these older routes on foot.

In contrast with these archaeological remains, the most visible modern presence in Montmeló is the Circuit de Barcelona‑Catalunya. The track has been in operation since the early 1990s and hosts major motor racing competitions. On race weekends, the scale of the town shifts noticeably. Visitors arrive from many countries, and when the wind blows towards the town, the sound of engines carries across much of the urban area. Outside those headline events, the circuit remains active with testing and training sessions.

The shape of the old town

Montmeló’s historic centre is compact and easy to explore on foot. At its heart stands the parish church of Santa Eulàlia. The current building reflects reconstruction carried out after the Spanish Civil War, rather than an earlier structure preserved intact. Nearby is the town hall, built in the late 1920s, at a time when industrial growth in the Vallès was beginning to reshape many communities that had previously been agricultural.

The urban layout is not dominated by large monuments, yet it retains elements that point to its past. Narrow streets and modest houses of two or three storeys still define much of the centre. Until well into the 20th century, the surrounding landscape was largely given over to vineyards and fruit trees. That has since changed, with industrial estates and the infrastructure of the wider metropolitan area now forming part of everyday life in and around the town.

Local cooking and shared tables

The food associated with Montmeló belongs to the traditional cooking of the Vallès. In homes and local bakeries, it is common to prepare savoury coca, a flatbread topped with roasted vegetables and cured meats, a combination typical of the region. Dishes such as caracoles a la llauna, snails cooked in a metal tray, often appear at family gatherings and group meals, particularly during the colder months. That same season also brings calçotadas, social meals centred on grilled spring onions known as calçots, usually enjoyed in farmhouses or outdoor spaces.

Sweet dishes tend to be simple and rooted in domestic traditions. Sponge cakes flavoured with almond or lemon remain common, reflecting a style of cooking that made use of produce from local orchards and gardens.

Festive dates through the year

The local calendar revolves around traditional celebrations. The main festival linked to Sant Sebastià takes place in January, bringing together community activities, music and dancing in the town square. It is one of the moments in the year when former residents, now living in nearby cities, often return.

In spring, a fair inspired by Andalusian traditions is usually held in the area around the Circuit, with temporary structures and music shaping the atmosphere. Later in the year, autumn brings a popular race that crosses different parts of the municipality, combining stretches through the town with sections along agricultural paths.

Getting there and looking around

Montmeló is connected to Barcelona by a commuter rail line that runs through the Vallès corridor, with the journey taking around half an hour. By road, it can be reached via the C‑17 or along routes that link it with Granollers and Montornès.

The town itself can be seen fairly quickly, which makes it worthwhile to head towards the paths in the Serra de la Conreria. From there, simple walking routes lead up to small hermitages and natural viewpoints overlooking the Vallès. On clear days, the setting becomes easy to read: a natural passage between ranges of hills where, from Roman times to today, movement has been constant. Montmeló has grown at precisely that meeting point.