Visit Montserrat Monastery from Barcelona (Spain)
Barcelona / Montserrat monastery
Visit the Montserrat Monastery and mountain near Barcelona Spain
Visit Montserrat monastery from Barcelona: all info, tours and tickets for visiting the monastery (abbey), the cogwheel train and the Montserrat mountain near Barcelona Spain.
Monasterio de Montserrat Spain – Visit & Tickets |
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| Accessibility | You have several options to reach Montserrat from Barcelona:
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| Museum tickets |
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| Boy’s choir |
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50Visit Montserrat Monastery
Montserrat is a special rock formation in Catalonia (Spain).
According to tradition, this is the most important and mysterious mountain in Catalonia. The Montserrat mountain is located approximately 50 km north-west of Barcelona and forms the separation between the comarcas Anoia, Bages and Baix Llobregat. The highest peak of the mountain of Montserrat is the peak of Sant Jeroni (1236 m) and you have a beautiful view of the Pyrenees and the sea on the mountain. On the mountain is the sanctuary and the Benedictine Montserrat monastery (“Monasterio de Montserrat“). Every year this abbey (dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat) and mountain attracts many tourists, including Catholic pilgrims, walkers and (rock)climbers.
Montserrat Monastery in Spain
The basilica of the monastery
Sights at Montserrat mountain
Benedictine abbey and basilica
According to the legend, around 880 a group of shepherds found the statue of the Virgin Mary in the holy cave ‘Santa Cova’, where after this discovery the mountain was surrounded by spirituality.
The monastery has a huge library and was built in the 11th century. You can only visit the monastery to a limited extent, but you can visit (for free) the dark and stately basilica with the statue of the ‘Black Madonna’ (La Moreneta), which is very loved by the pilgrims.
Museum of Montserrat Monastery
The Montserrat Monastery Museum has a very diverse collection of objects. Originally many objects from the old Middle East, such as an old mummy, but later supplemented with many paintings with even masters such as Picasso and Salvador Dalí.
Boy’s choir
Montserrat Spain is also home to one of the oldest boy choirs in Europe (probably as early as the 14th century). The choir, called l’Escolanía, consists of 30 boys who live in the monastery complex. In the yellow block you can see when the choir performs in the monastery.
Hiking in the area
The area with rock formations and beautiful views is an ideal hiking area.
The most popular hiking route for day visitors is that to the Camí de la Santa Cova, the cave where the Holy statue was found at the time. Another route is the much longer route (5 hours) from Cim de Sant Jeroni where you walk to the highest point of Monsterrat for the best view.
Montserrat tickets & Tours from Barcelona
Video: Montserrat Spain
Where is the monastery and mountain in Spain?
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Montserrat Mountain – a place where dreams come true
Montserrat Mountain – perhaps the most amazing place in Catalonia.
It is difficult for any tourist who has ever visited Barcelona to ignore this unusual mountain.
General
Montserrat is truly unique. It is a place of pilgrimage for many believers and, having climbed to its top, we have not only beautiful views of the surroundings, but also the opportunity to plunge into a special atmosphere.
Since the Mesozoic era, limestone and various pebble rocks have accumulated in layers. Today, the height of the highest point of the mountain is more than 1230 meters above sea level. It is very pleasant to climb to the very top to the clouds, breathing in the fresh mountain air!
The area of Montserrat is 50 square kilometers, which is dominated by hundreds of unusually shaped limestone rocks.
The bald rocks of the mountain resemble giant idols that invariably guard these places.
History of Montserrat
Montserrat in snow
Monks came to Montserrat in the 11th century. In 1025, the first stone was laid in the foundation of the monastery by abbot Oliba of Ripolsky. Later, a monument was erected to him here. Montserrat Monastery was built in the Romanesque style at an altitude of more than 720 meters above sea level and 49 kilometers north of Barcelona.
From Catalan, Montserrat translates as “Sawn Mountain”.
Today, 100 monks live here permanently. Also in the monastery is a huge library with 300,000 books, 400 of which are handwritten. In one of the buildings of the monastery there is the “Museum of Montserrat”, which houses various religious relics, archaeological excavations, as well as paintings:
- Picasso
- Dali
- El Greco and other Spanish artists
Monastery on Montserrat
Facade of the basilica
A large number of legends are associated with the appearance of Montserrat.
One of them speaks of little angels who, millions of years ago, descended to the mountain to decorate the dull landscape and build a palace here for the Mother of God with the help of a “golden saw”. The legend says that the first miraculous image of the “Black Madonna” appeared in the 12th century. In general, the “Black Madonna” is an unsolved mystery!
In 1811 Napoleon stormed the mountain three times and then destroyed the monastery. During the looting of the monastery, believers managed to hide the statue. In the second half of the 19th century, the restoration of the Benedictine community began. On the site where the “Black Madonna” was found, the “Holy Cave” chapel was built. At the end of the 19th century, the Image of the Virgin Mary was crowned and since then she has been the intercessor of Barcelona.
The monastery on Montserrat is the guardian of the national shrine of Catalonia. The statue of Our Lady with the Child in her arms attracts pilgrims from all over the world.
Since 1987, the entire natural complex adjacent to the monastery has been declared a National Park of Catalonia. In 2025 the monastery will celebrate its millennium. On the mountain there is a path “The Way of Christ”, on which there are 14 event sculptures of the ascension of Jesus on the cross to Golgotha. At the end of the trail at the cross of St. Michael, you can admire a beautiful view of the Monastery and Montserrat.
Things to try on Montserrat
Tourists should definitely try 4 types of liqueurs made according to old recipes of Benedictine monks:
- 60 herbs
- cream catalano
- hazelnut
- walnut
For only 15 euros for two, you can dine at the “Restaurant Above the Abyss” and buy high-mountain honey and fragrant goat cheese at the local market.
Of great interest to tourists is the funicular train, which takes passengers up the mountain for 15 minutes, from where a superb view of the entire complex and the nature of Montserrat opens.
Useful information
Main attractions
- Black Madonna
- Escolania Boys Choir
- Funicular train
- Facade of the Basilica
- Museum
- Stairway to Heaven
Address
Spain, Catalonia, Monistrol de Montserrat
How to get from Barcelona
Train: line R5 Montserrat – Aeri to Monistrol de Montserrat station.
Detailed instructions: How to get from Barcelona to Montserrat!
Location
Excursions to Montserrat
Full and detailed instructions on how to get to Montserrat from Barcelona on your own can be found here.
If you don’t have a special desire to understand all the intricacies of public transport in Barcelona, but you really want to get to the mountain, we recommend you an organized excursion to Montserrat.
For only 70 euros per person, you will be picked up from the very center of Barcelona – from Plaza Catalunya – on a comfortable bus, taken to Montserrat, they will tell you everything, show you and bring you back.
In addition, this price includes a trip on the railway overpass to Montserrat mountain, a tour of the mountain, as well as a unique excursion to the Crypt of Gaudí and Colonia Güell, which are located in a small textile village near Montserrat. The tour lasts from 08:30 to 16:00.
When going to the mountain, do not forget to book your seats in advance. You can do this at the link on the official ticket platform.
The best excursions to Montserrat
Where to stay near Montserrat
To enjoy the beautiful views for as long as possible, we recommend staying nearby for at least a few days.
Among the hotels located near the monastery, we recommend the following:
- Barceló Esteve Apartaments. Located in Monistrol, near Montserrat. The funicular is 100 meters away. Here you will find a spa, a terrace with a magnificent view and free internet access. The apartment is absolutely family-friendly with a kitchenette, air conditioning and a private bathroom.
- Guilleume Montserrat. This guest house is located in Monistrol, just as close to attractions. The mountain view rooms are fully equipped for a comfortable stay. At the local restaurant you can taste Catalan cuisine. There is free parking.
- Apartments Mo. From the apartments to the monastery only one and a half km. By booking an apartment, you will get your own living room, a small kitchen with everything you need and a bathroom. Air conditioning, TV – a standard set.
- Hotel Abat Cisneros Montserrat. A wonderful three-star hotel, which is about 500 years old, is located right next to the monastery. Everything is done here for a family holiday. There is even a playground for kids and a gluten-free menu.
Located in Monistrol, near Montserrat. The funicular is 100 meters away. Here you will find a spa, a terrace with a magnificent view and free internet access. The apartment is absolutely family-friendly with a kitchenette, air conditioning and a private bathroom. 
Choose one of the options and enjoy the beautiful Montserrat!
- How to avoid queues at Barcelona attractions. Tickets for the Sagrada Familia and Park Güell skip the line.
- How not to be deceived by local taxi drivers. Order a taxi in advance with fixed rates online. The most reliable service for ordering a taxi – KiwiTaxi .
- Excursions in Barcelona with locals will help you get to know this city for real. The best way to get comfortable in an unfamiliar city is to walk around it with a person who has lived here for many years.
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Barcelona Hotels: is our selection and recommendations.
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- Drimsim is a universal international SIM card and a free travel application. Best prices, fast internet and worldwide calls.
Montserrat Monastery in Spain, photo. How to get to Montserrat from Barcelona, address
Montserrat Monastery (Spain, Barcelona), which has been the property of the Benedictine order for almost a thousand years, was built in honor of the Catalan Mother of God. It is surrounded by 1200 rocks, which adds to its grandeur and makes it look grandiose and unique (which is fully confirmed by the brightest photos of this majestic building).
Today the monastery hosts about 80 monks.
At the temple in the monastery of Montserrat there is a boys’ choir whose singing traditions are known throughout the world today.
The monastery basilica houses a wooden sculpture of the Mother of God, which the monastery considers its pride. There is also a wonderful museum here, which presents a large collection of great artists and sculptors of all time: El Greco, Caravaggio, Picasso, Dali and many others (you can also see an equally amazing collection of works by the great Picasso in the museum of the same name in Barcelona).
The history of the emergence of the monastery of Montserrat (Monserrat, Barselona)
Montserrat owes its appearance in 1025 to abbot Oliba of Ripoll. He not only supervised the construction of a monastery in Spain, but was also a well-known architect in his time, who made a great contribution to the development of architecture in Catalonia. For example, he enriched Catalan architecture with the Lombard style, and he also supervised the reconstruction of other monasteries.
Since its construction, the Montserrat monastery in Spain has been rebuilt, then destroyed by Napoleonic troops, but rebuilt.
The last time its appearance changed at the beginning of the last century. Now monks live in it, and numerous visiting pilgrims stay at the hotel built for them.
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The history of the Black Madonna and Child
Most pilgrims are attracted to Montserrat by the statue of the Black Madonna, which, according to legend, was carved by St. Luke. Then it was brought by Saint Peter to Spain, and from 718 the statue was hidden from the Muslims in the mountains of Montserrat. Then her traces were lost, but in the year 890 the Black Madonna was miraculously found by shepherds. According to them, they found her in the cave by the mysterious radiance flowing from there, and the sounds of angelic singing. Shepherds erected a chapel at the place of its discovery, and the cave was given the name “Santa Cova”.
There are several hypotheses as to why the statue of the Madonna and Child is black, however, all of them lack a solid foundation.
According to one of them, the Madonna and Child were depicted according to the iconography of Isis and her son Horus, which was characterized by the use of black. It is also possible that with the help of black, the creators of the statue wanted to emphasize the connection between the Madonna and the Earth-mother. Although, it is quite possible that the reason for its black color is much simpler: the wood was smoked by candles that were lit for centuries in the immediate vicinity of it.
Many famous people have made pilgrimages to the Black Madonna in Montserrat, including Saint Ignatius of Loyola. He took off his weapons in front of the altar, choosing the path of religious asceticism. In 1881, after canonization by Pope Leo XIII, the statue became the patroness of Catalonia.
Childless women also turn to the statue of the Madonna and Child to fulfill the dream of motherhood, so there are many women and young couples among the pilgrims.
Two popes are buried in the church at the monastery of Montserrat: Callistos III and Alexander VI.
At first, their resting place was the Roman Cathedral of St. Peter, but since 1610 they have been in the Montserrat Monastery in Barcelona.
How to get to Montserrat Monastery, Barcelona:
Montserrat Barcelona Address: Monte Montserrat s/n, 08199 Monistrol de Montserrat, Barcelona, Espanya
Public transport:
Local train FGC (station “Pl. Espanya” – station “Montserrat – Aeri”), then funicular (5€). Another option is to get to “Monistrol de Montserrat” and change to the Cremallera rack railway (4€).
Car:
From Barcelona to Montserrat take the Avinguda Diagonal, then take the A-2 for about 5 km to exit 5 of the N-II (to Martorell, Lleida). Drive about 35 km on N-II to exit 570 onto N-IIA, then go straight on N-IIA for 600 m before turning right onto BV-111. Then take the turn right onto Carretera del Bruc towards Manresa. After following the Carretera del Bruc for about 1.