Montserrat
- Hours:Open daily 8am - 10:30am and 12pm - 6:30pm
- Admission:Free
Holy Place, Religious Experience, Walking/Hiking, Monastery, Mountain
12:21 AM Friday, May 25
Passing clouds. Mild.
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Located about 30 miles (50 km) northwest of Barcelona is Montserrat - the 'Serrated Mountain'. The mountain gets its name from the rock formations which look like they've been sawed and sculpted, the result of thousands of years of wind and rain.
This unique rock formation is home to a Benedictine monastery and is a famous pilgrimage spot as it is home to the 12th century wooden statue of La Moreneta (The Black Virgin), Catalonia's patron. The Monestir de Montserrat is a source of Catalan pride as well. During the regime of Franco, the monastery continued to hold Catholic ceremonies in the Catalan language and became a stronghold of Catalan culture despite the oppression from the government.
Besides the religious and cultural importance of Montserrat, the mountain also boasts unbeatable views from it's peaks. A cog wheel train takes visitors to a lookout point where all of Catalonia and the Pyrenees can be seen. On the clearest days, you may even catch a glimpse of the island of Mallorca to the southeast.
Latest Reviews All Montserrat Reviews »
This was an excellent trip and I would recommend to all vistors the Barcelona. The guide was excellent providing a great deal of information and answering all questions thoroughly. The monestry is in an exceptional location and the trip is worth the cost alone. The winery tour was excellent and once agin extremely informative and not just another sales pitch for the wine.
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The trip was memorable. View from Monserrat was majestic and the tour to the Cava winery was just beyond words. Our tour guide was good and the people on the trip were also very friendly, so we had a great time. Unfortunately the time we had at the Monserrat was not quite enough, so we cannot do all the things that we would love to do. Overall it was a highly recommended trip.
Continue Reading »Practical Info
Getting to Montserrat is a 1-hour train or 90-minute car ride. For those looking to get the most out of your visit, it's recommended to sign up for an organized tour. A guide will provide historical commentary while leading the group through the monastery and will head the climb up the mountain to enjoy the views. Various walking paths are also marked for you to take and explore the mountain at your own pace.
