Montblanc is a fine medieval town whose historic centre lies within its defensive walls. The St Jordi gate is the spot where St George killed the dragon. Montblanc has a festival every April filled with dragons, fire and celebrating the victory of St George. From the 4th to the 1st century BC Iberian villages existed on Santa Bàrbara hill. These villages coexisted with the early Roman settlers.After the invasion by the Moors in 711 AD, much of the area became dominated by a patchwork of Islamic fiefdoms. The Islamic invasion initiated a long period of very successful agricultural and commercial development. The 10th and 11th centuries seem to have been a period of relatively peaceful coexistence in which Muslims, Christians and Jews lived in the region of Montblanc.