18th Century

At the beginning of the 18th century, the War of Succession dealt a severe blow to festive life in Vilafranca. Despite this, the Drac continued its activity, and we have news of it in 1724 during the celebrations of the proclamation of Louis I as King of Spain.

A very important documentary source from this century is the Book of the Administration of Sant Fèlix, preserved from 1778 to 1876, which records the expenses of the Festa Major and the Dragon's performances. We thus know that in 1753 the cost of the Drac at the festival was 6 pounds and 14 shillings.

In 1760, the Drac participated in the procession for the return of the Blessed Sacrament to the church of Santa Maria, in an act of great solemnity for the town. A few years later, in 1771, the Baron of Maldà left written impressions of the Festa Major of Vilafranca, mentioning the festive figures, including the Drac.

In 1787, the first documented repair of the Drac was carried out, indicating the good use it was seeing and the desire to preserve it. Shortly after, around 1789, the Enlightenment official Francisco de Zamora included the Drac de Vilafranca in his questionnaire about the situation of Catalan towns, recognising it as a relevant element of the territory's festive culture.