Montserrat Monastery and Natural Park
A day trip is ideal for those who look for a fun countryside city break from Barcelona. Boost your travel experience with a Montserrat Monastery and Natural Park tour.
Barcelona, our favorite city, doesn’t need introduction. The most vibrant and best city of Spain for its Mediterranean lifestyle, Barcelona ranks among the top cities to visit in Europe. Gaudí, amazing lifestyle, sunny weather, finger-licking tapas, great shopping and so much more. If you want a taste of all of this, book now your Barcelona City Tour with a private guide, cruising on a sidecar motorcyle. It doesn’t get any better!
Beyond the energy and cool atmosphere of Barcelona, many visitors also look for a place to relax and explore the countryside of Catalonia. For them, an excursion to Montserrat, a tour into the Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat and a hike is our suggestion of the day!
What is considered the holiest and most emblematic mountain of Catalonia is a tempting scene-changer for a day tour. An extremely popular stunning site of natural beauty in the region, for many it’s an once in a lifetime journey. An absolutely unique natural setting: breathtaking rock formations and the enticing Mediterranean scents and colors. As a result, it’s one of the most photographed places in Spain just an hour away from city center, airport and cruise ship port in Barcelona.
Some historical facts about Montserrat Monastery & Natural Park
Why is Montserrat so famous then?
Geologically, the formation of Montserrat dates back some 45 million years ago. Its unique natural setting is the result of mass movements of land and water that shaped the local landscape. It’s a rocky range with many peaks. This unique characteristic gave the name “Montserrat”, which in Catalan translates as “serrated mountain”. It has very distinct rock formations, composed of conglomerate of sedimentary rock.
As a result, the land was exposed to air, leaving the formation of rocks to suffer the effects of the weather. Over the course of the next few million years, the rainwater carved shapes into the rock we see today. The rock was soft compared to the stone, producing the incredible system of curves and peaks that is Montserrat today.
But how Montserrat became a site full of sacred meanings?
Legend has it that in the year 880 aC, shepherd children saw lights and heard songs coming from the mountain. They traced the activity to a cave, where they found a statue dubbed “La Moreneta”, “the Black Madonna”. Called Black because of its darker look. The monastery quickly became a pilgrim magnet. The small wooden Virgin of Montserrat is behind protective glass in the Montserrat basilica. Inside the royal orb she cradles in her hand is exposed, ready to receive the venerating touch of the faithful. Montserrat has a library with over 300,000 volumes, many of them from the 14-15th centuries.
They are divided into different fields of study like religion, humanities, science and music. Moreover, there is an Art Museum in the complex with extended collection of paintings and sculptures. Visitors can buy souvenirs or gifts in one of the many shops located around the monastery. For those who prefer local food products they can buy some regional specialties from the farmers market. A few step from the parking you can find the stalls of the market.
So, what is the best way to visit Montserrat?
There are plenty of tours from Barcelona to Montserrat, private or group tours with the advantage of an all-inclusive and stress free experience. Online, at your hotel or tourist information centres in Barcelona you will find many many options for all budgets.
If however you are feeling a little more adventurous and ready to explore on your own, this information is for you! You should know right away it’s a fun, easy and safe ride from Barcelona.
How to get from Barcelona to Montserrat on public transport
Going to Montserrat Monastery and Natural Park by public transport is fun, easy and safe. And you will meet a lot of adventurous fellow travellers on the way. Here is your step-by-step:
- In Barcelona, go to “Plaça de Espanya” railway station (easiest way is by subway services Metro de Barcelona. station ESPANYA, L1 and L3 lines).
- Once at the railway station FGC, get your tickets on the vending machines (there will be people to help you) and take the R5 line towards Manresa. R5 departures every hour and on high season, every 30 minutes. Make sure tho check ahead the R5 FGC timetable.
- Get off at “Aeri de Montserrat” and take the stunning Montserrat cable car ride all the way to the top. You can get your tikets at the Aeri de Montserrat website.
- If you are not confortable with heights, then our suggestion is that you get off at the following station “Monistrol de Montserrat” and take the rack railway Cremallera de Montserrat.
THE BRIGHT INSIGHT
At Plaça de Espanya you can get a combined ticket with Trans Montserrat that includes transport, museums, funicular ride and lunch options. Lunch options up top are not vast, so if you are picky, bring a nice sandwich from Barcelona and water for the day.
If you have read all the way to this point, then we know you are the adventurous traveler who loves an authentic experience wherever you go. And that is exactly why we recommend you make time to book the most fun tours of Barcelona by sidecar motorcycle with a private guide, with BrightSide Tours.
What to do once arrived at Montserrat Monastery and Natural park
After the arrival to the mountain hilltop, there is no shortage of cultural interest, spirituality and unforgettable views, sweeping from the Mediterranean to the Pyrenees on a clear day.
- Visit the Montserrat Basilica, the 11th century monastery is home to La Moreneta, the famous Black Madonna of Montserrat — the patron saint of Catalonia. Opening hours: 7:00AM to 8:00PM.
- Hear the world famous boys choir Escolania de Montserrat, one of Europe’s oldest choirs. Tipically they sing for midday mass about 1:00PM (arrive early to secure a seat).
- Explore the spectacular natural park, filled with hiking trails and stunning rock formations. Take the funiculars up to the top and hike back down, the most popular hikes are Sant Geroni (highest peak) and Santa Cova where the Virgin was said to be found. Save a couple of hours for the easy level hike and bring water.
- Visit the Montserrat Museum with works by artists such as Caravaggio, El Greco, Monet, and Picasso.
THE BRIGHT INSIGHT
Get up early as you want to beat the crowds, the Monastery visit is better before 10AM or after 3PM (but in this case, you are missing the choir). Before departuring your hotel, make sure to have the proper clothing. Check the temperatures at Montserrat and take in consideration the temperature swing is much higher there than in Barcelona, be ready for much colder in the winter and heat in the summer. Confortable clothing and shoes, hats and sunscreen in the summer are non negotiable.
A day trip to the Catalan countryside and a tour to Montserrat Monastery and Natural Park is essential for those looking for a nature getaway during their trip to Barcelona. If you want more insider tips of great thinks to do in Barcelona, make sure to book your private sidecar tour early on your trip so your guide will help you plan the rest of your stay according to your personal preferences.
