Montserrat Monastery

Visits to Montserrat Monastery, where you can obtain information on all the activities available in the Monastery (visiting the museums, riding on the rack railway, listening to the “virolai” hymn.

· Information

Santa Maria de Montserrat Monastery is a Benedictine abbey located on Montserrat Mountain, in Catalonia, Spain. It is notable for going to see and admire the image of the Virgin of Montserrat. This place, it’s a symbol for Catalonia, and it has become a point of pilgrimage for the believers, and also it’s an obligatory visit for the tourists.

The legend located the discovery of the image of the Virgin of Montserrat around the year 880, when a group of children founded it seeing a light inside the mountain. When the bishop heard the news tried to transfer the image to Manresa, but this was impossible because the statue weighed too much and was interpreted as the desire of the Virgin to remain in the place where she was found. So, was ordered to build the chapel of Santa Maria, origin of the present monastery.

The actually image, represents Mother of God, with Baby Jesus sitting on his lap. In her right hand it’s holding a sphere symbolizing the universe; the child has his right hand raised for blessing, while his left hand it’s holding a pineapple. Except Baby Jesus and the face and the hands of Mary, the image is golden. Virgin, however, is black, which has given her nickname “La Moreneta”, the patron of Catalonia.

· Timetable:

Basilica, it’s open since 7.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.

Mother of God, it is open since 8.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. and 12.00 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. From July 15th to September 30th, it is also open since 7.30 p.m. to 8.00 p.m.

The shopping where you can find all the souvenirs it is open from Monday to Friday, from 9.00 a.m. to 5.45 p.m. the weekends it’s open from 9.00 a.m. to 6.45 p.m. 

· ¿How to get here?

Getting to Montserrat is easy, whether by public transport, car or also on foot. It is located in the center of Catalonia and well communicated by the main road network, and from Barcelona and Manresa there are trains every hour, that links up with Railway train and Cable Car.

- On foot, you can arrive from:

1. From Monistrol:

Camino de les Canales i L’Aigua. (GR-5-96) (Canals and Water Path)

Drecera de Els Tres Quarts. (GR-96) (Three Quarters short cut)

PR-C 19, approved for the Catalan Paths Committee of the Association of Rambler’s Clubs of Catalonia.

2. From Collbató:

Taking the Graus, Voltes and San Miquel paths.

Coves del Salnitre. (Nitre caves)

- By road:

It’s simple to arrive from Lleida, Tarragona, Girona and Barcelona. 

From Barcelona, leaving the city by Avinguda Diagonal, Avinguda Meridiana and Vallvidrera tunnels.

Car park capacity is limited, and supposes a cost:

  • - By car: 6 €
  • - By motorbike: 3 €
  • - By bus: 50 €

Also there is the possibility to arrive by bus. Julia buses www.autocaresjulia.es departures from Viriat Street, near Sants Station, in Barcelona. The bus leaves at 9.15 a.m. and finally returns to the same meet point at 5.00 p.m. from October to May, and at 6.00 p.m. from June to September. The cost it’s 5.10 € for one way.

- By cable car:

It is the quickest way to arrive to Montserrat Monastery, and allow passengers admire and see the beautiful views.

Cable cars depart every 15 minutes. It’s available to arrive by car to the cable car station, where the parking it’s free.

- By train Cremallera (Railway):

It is a public transport service that links up the Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya station in Monistrol de Montserrat, with the Monastery.

The travel is almost 15 minutes, from Monistrol Vila every 20 minutes. It is possible to arrive by car or bus, because there is a free car park at the station.

FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat) train to Montserrat departs from Barcelona-Plaza España Station every hour. The R5 line (Barcelona-Manresa), also links with the Montserrat cable car and railway station.