Abbey of Montserrat
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Abbey of Montserrat - by Sebastian Pichler on Unsplash
Description
Santa Maria de Montserrat is an abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict located on the mountain of Montserrat, Catalonia. It was founded in the 11th century and rebuilt in the 19th/20th and still operates with about 70 monks. It is well known for its image of the Virgin of Montserrat, Catalonia's favourite saint, and its location up the mountain. The Basilica was first built in the 16th century but had to be reconstructed in the early 19th century. A new façade was made after the Spanish Civil War. There is also a museum with modern paintings, an archaeological section (showing objects from Egypt, Mesopotamia, etc.) and ancient paintings (incl. El Greco and Caravaggio) Finally, the Escolania, Montserrat’s Boys’ Choir, is one of the oldest in Europe and generally performs for 15mins around lunch time on weekdays
Access & Transport
The town in the valley can be accessed by road or train from Barcelona (from Plaça Espanya) - some lines link to the cable car station and others to the rack railway station. From the village it is possible to hike, take a 5' cable car ride or use the rack rail (Cremallera) that ascends 600m in 15mins. Note that the cable car is not accessible for wheelchair users so, if coming by train from Barcelona, make sure you get a ticket for the rail rack station.
Instructions & Recommendations
We strongly advise visitors to plan their journey to make sure they get in the right train and arrive at the train station on schedule. Once in Montserrat it is quite easy to get one's bearings. There are also some bus tour options available from Barcelona. If you plan on hiking, make sure your wear adequate shoes (casual tennis / sneakers are fine). Also, best to check the weather as you will be missing on the view if it is raining or foggy. The rack railway website is: https://www.cremallerademontserrat.cat/en/home/
Environmental & Social
Environmentally part of the traffic is managed by cable car and the rack rail that have greener credentials that cars and buses. Socially this activity helps preserve this special cultural heritage and sustain the community of monks living there
Conclusion
The Abbey of Montserrat is a worthy day trip from Barcelona and even warrants a significant detour in a Catalonia itinerary, especially for those keen on religious buildings or just looking for a change from the beach or the city. The trip will take most of your day so it may feel long for younger children.
Key positive
The serrated mountains are genuinely impressive and the views quite spectacular
The Boys' choir and the Black Virgen are two highlights
Key negative
A little time consuming to get there as a day trip
Can be crowded and there is likely to be a long wait to touch the Black Madonna
Suitability
Suitable for all ages but best for aged 12 and above The buildings in the Abbey complex are accessible for visitors with reduced mobility.
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
May 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:1h 30m
est. visit time:2h 30m
Monday10:00 - 17:45
Tuesday10:00 - 17:45
Wednesday10:00 - 17:45
Thursday10:00 - 17:45
Friday10:00 - 17:45
Saturday10:00 - 17:45
Sunday10:00 - 17:45