Montserrat Monastery via Cremallera and Funiculars

About Montserrat Monastery via Cremallera and Funiculars

Cremallera de Montserrat Links Monistrol de montserrat FGC station (on the R5 and R50 lines) with Montserrat monastry via an intermediatery stop in Monistrol vila. The purpose for construction the Rack railway was to improve access for worshippers and pilgrims to the Montserrat sanctuary.

Traditional access up to Montserrat mountain had been on foot or horseback. Joaquim Carrera, engineer and admirer of both Montserrat and Swiss mountain trains persuaded local businessman Josep M. Gonzalez to build a rack railway that would link Monistrol train station with the monastery. In 1881 the company Ferrocarriles de Montana a Grandes Pendientes was constituted and inaugurated the montserrat Cremallera on 6 October 1892.

The greatest novelty for the time was that the rack railway and its link with the monistrol train lines meant that the return journey between Barcelona and Montserrat could be accomplished in a single day. The railway also gave a boost to the economy of the surrounding area.

The original Montserrat monastery rack railway made its last journey in 1957, but the dream of seeing it back in action one day was never lost. During the 1980 the Generalitat's Transport Authority and the FGC commissioned various studies and alternatives with a view to restoring the rack railway. This culminated in 1991 with the drawing up of a project that would form the basis of the current modern rack railway. In July 2001 work began on the new rack railway with inauguration on 11 June 2003.

For most of its five kilometres the rack railway follows the route of the original railway. Of these, four kilometres are in rack traction to cover a difference in height of almost 550 metres between Monistrol-Vila and Montserrat monastery station. Leaving Monistrol de Montserrat Station the rack railway enters a newly constructed La Foradada tunnel then crosses the river llobregat and C-55 highway via the Pont del Centenari bridge before pulling into monistrol Vila station where there is large car parking for tourists.

After Monistrol de Vila the Current day rack railway uses the original railway alignment and existing tunnel del angel replacing a previous level crossing with a new bridge. The tunel de Apostles just before arriving at the monastery is also reused from the original railway.

Sant Joan Funicular railway gives visitors a spectacular panoramic view of Montserrat from 1000m above sea level. Visitors can enjoy the best views of the mountain from here. The journey up Sant Joan funicular is a unique experience, with a steep slope gradient (more then 65%), travelling 503 metres.

Sant Joan funicular was opened in 1918 and was built to connect the outside of the monastery with Sant Joan Chapel, which is on the top of the mountain, where there is also a viewpoint. The line was so successful that the train soon became too small and in 1926 the installations were replaced, with a different track gauge and vehicles with a greater capacity. In 1986 the funicular railway became part of the FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) and in 1997 it was completely modernised, including new panoramic vehicles.

Santa Cova funicular railway takes visitors from the sanctuary to the site near the cave where, according to tradition, the Mare de Deu de Montserrat image was found. Pilgrims have travelled down on the funicular to this emblematic place since 1929. On the way to Santa Cova visitors can see the Rosari Monumental, a group of sculptures by Antoni Gaudi and Josep Llimona. Visitors can enjoy a peaceful journey on the historical funicular, which travels 262 metres, with a difference in height of 118 metres.

The Montserrat to Santa Cova funicular railway was built in 1929 by the FMGP (Ferrocarrils de Muntanya a Grans Pendents), a company that also owned Sant Joan funicular railway. FGC (Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya) has owned both funicular railways since 1986. Santa Cova funicular railway has been renovated twice (in 1963 and 1991), but the floods in Montserrat in July 2000 affected the installations ? the lower station and one of the trains were partially damaged. The railways installations were completely renovated after the incident, with new panoramic trains that started to run again in June 2001.

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Visiting Montserrat Monastery via Cremallera and Funiculars

Accessibility, mobility & Clothing for Montserrat Cremallera and Funiculars

The Montserrat rack railway (Cremallera) stations, as well as the train itself, are adapted for people with reduced mobility, while the Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars are not.

Getting to Montserrat Monastery via Cremallera and Funiculars

Address: Monestir de Montserrat, Monistrol de Montserrat. 08199

A combined FGC train to monistrol de montserrat and Cremallera rack railway ticket can be purchased from any FGC station and online.

Currently the tickets for the Sant Joan and Santa cova Funiculars are sold seperately at their respective stations in Montserrat Monastery. However in the past it has been possible to buy FGC train + FGC cremallera + FGC funiculars combined ticket.

Monistrol de monserat is on the llobregat-Anoia lines of the FGC network with the Barcelona terminus at plaza Espana.

The Funiculars generally run from 10h till sometime between 18h and 19h depending on the season. Also they close for aprox 30 days a year, normally around February/March, for anual maintenance. More details on the Cremallera de Montserrat website.

Documents for Montserrat Monastery via Cremallera and Funiculars

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