What can you see at Montserrat Monastery and history

About Montserrat Monastery

Montserrat monastery is located about 50Km to the north west of Barcelona on top of the Montserrat natural park mountain range.

Monasterio de Montserrat is a popular day trip visit from Barcelona, being the most famous monastery in Catalonia.

Montserrat can be visited as a day trip by train From Barcelona using the Racked railway (Cremallera) or Cable car with a journey time of about 1 hour and 20 minutes. See the Getting to section.

This page is specifically about the Montserrat Monastery and what to see and do when visiting Montserrat.

Montserrat Monastery History

The sanctuary of the Virgin Mary of Montserrat, has its historical origins in the hermitage of Santa Maria, which Count Guifre el Pelas gave to the Monastery of Ripoll in the year 888.

In 1025, Oliba, Abbot of Ripoll and Bishop of Vic, founded a new monastery at the hermitage of Santa Maria de Montserrat. The little monastery soon began to receive pilgrims and visitors who contributed to the spread of stories of miracles and wonders performed by the Virgin.

In 1409 the monastery of Montserrat became an independent abbey. From 1493 to 1835, a period in which the monastery underwent great reforms, growing and increasing in splendour, Montserrat was part of the Valladolid Congregation.

During the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, the Monastery of Montserrat became a cultural centre of the first order. The Montserrat Music School produced important composers.

The French War (1808-1811) brought complete destruction of the abbey and abandonment, but reconstruction began in 1811 and in 1844 monastic life began to return. In 1881 there were the Festivities for the Coronation of the Image of Our Lady, at which She was proclaimed Patron Saint of Catalonia by Pope Leo XIII.

The current façade of the Abbey dates from 1901 and is by Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona with sculptural reliefs that can be seen from a square surrounded by a modern construction of stone.

The Spanish Civil War (1936 - 1939) led once again to the abandonment of the monastery. However, the Government of Catalonia managed to save Montserrat from being sacked and destroyed.

After the civil war a modern monastic building, that sits in front of the abbey, was constructed between 1942 and 1968 by Francesc Folguera i Grassi. It is decorated with sculptural reliefs of Joan Rebull.

Image Gallery for Montserrat Monastery

Click on any of the 44 images to open full screen gallery player

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Visiting Montserrat Monastery

Today, Montserrat has been modernised to continue attending to the needs to pilgrims one thousand years after it was originally founded.

Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey

Santa Maria de Montserrat is a minor basilica of the Order of Saint Benedict and is open to the public and FREE to visit. The current Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey is dates from 1811 with the 1901 façade.

To get to the abbey you first pass through some stone arches in a modern building dating from 1968. This modern building has a bell tower but is not actually the abbey but part of the monastery.

When you pass through this modern building to the right (when facing the abbey façade) under the arches you may see a short queue of people and wonder what they are queueing for. From here there is a passage that runs down the inside of the abbey and behind the alter where you can touch the sacred Black Madonna Statue. There is a small charge of a 3.50€ to visit the statue.

The Black Madonna, referred to 'The Virgin of Montserrat' or 'La Moreneta' or 'The image of Montserrat' sits behind a sheet of glass. However, one of her hands that is holding a sphere (which symbolises the universe) is not behind the glass. It is tradition for you to kiss or touch the Virgin's hand whilst opening out your other hand to Jesus.

Upon Exiting the Abbey in the small square you will see an arch to the left of the abbey façade that leads into a passage cut in the rock called The Ave Maria Path (Cami de l'Ave Maria). This passage is where pilgrims, tourists and worshipers can place a candle and say a silent prayer. There are thousands of candles and some floral tributes.

Montserrat Main square - Plaça Santa Maria de Montserrat

In the Main square in front of the modern façade to the right are some arches with white statues. These offer great views of the Mountain.

To the left are some gothic arches and steps to a small garden in front. This is the cloister of the monastery and is the work of the architect Josep Puig i Cadafalch. On the walls of the cloister, the visitor can see old pieces, some from the 10th century. The cloister cannot be visited inside but you can walk up the steps and view the small garden.

Montserrat Monastery Museum

The Montserrat Museum is accessed from the Main square of the Monastery and located in a building from 1963 with modern additions, the last being 2004. The museum contains a large collection of paintings and artefacts of a religious theme.

The adult ticket price for Montserrat Museum is 8.00€.

Tourist Information in Montserrat

Upon leaving the Montserrat cremallera station there are stairs ascending to the main square. In the building on the corner with the stairs is the tourist information office where you can find maps of the monastery and the most popular walking routes from the Monastery.

In Plaça Abat Oliba is the Mosos d'Esquadra police station and first aid centre.

You will also find a the yellow Correos post box (next to the police station) where you can send a postcard from Montserrat Monastery. Purchase the postcard and stamp in the gift shop next to the buffet restaurant.

Montserrat Choir

Montserrat is home to one of the oldest boys choirs in Europe dating from the 14th Century and accompanies religious ceremonies and communal prayers in the Santa Maria abbey.

Montserrat Boys choir Times:
• Monday to Friday: 13.00h Salve and Virolai
• Monday to Thursday: 18.45h Vespers, Salve Montserratina and Polyphonic Motet
• Saturdays: The Boys Choir does not sing
• Sundays and religious holidays: 12.00h Salve and Virolai, 18.45h Vespers, Salve Montserratina and Polyphonic Motet

What else to do and see in Montserrat

Visiting the Monastery, Museum and exploring the squares takes about half a day. Below are some walking routes in Montserrat that take half a day, or if you only spend an hour in the Basilica, can be done in the same day.

• Santa Cova walk Takes about two to three hours to complete and is an EASY level walk.
• Easy Montserrat Walk is a EASY-MEDIUM level walk and takes about 4-5 hours.
• Sant Jeroni from Montserrat Monastery Is a MEDIUM-EASY walk to the sant Jeroni Summit I would allow 5-6 hours to complete this route.

Getting to Montserrat Monastery

Address: Monestir de Montserrat, Monistrol de Montserrat. 08199

See the Getting to Section for Montserrat and compare prices or consider a Guided tour by coach.

Where to stay overnight in the Montserrat Monastery and history