Montserrat Mountain Range & Monastery

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See Montserrat Ticket Options

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As you approach Barcelona, you will notice the incredible jagged mountain range that sits outside the city, called the Montserrat Mountain Range, which is also home to the incredible Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded in the 10th century and still to this day is home to more than 100 Benedictine monks.

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Sitting at 1236 meters, the Montserrat Mountain Range looks over Barcelona and offers incredible views of the Catalonia capital. The mountain range sits in the natural park of Montserrat. The mountain range offers a great day out and a wonderful escape from the city.

The Black Madona

The monastery has a church which has been consecrated a basilica and is home to the famous 'Black Madonna' sometimes called 'The Virgin of Montserrat' or 'La Moreneta'. A wooden sculpture that depicts The Virgin Mary, and attracts pilgrims from all over the world.

The statue actually sits behind a sheet of glass which protects it. One hand from the statue is accessible through a purposefully placed whole in the glass panel and the hand holds a sphere that symbolises the world. Its common for those that visit the statue to touch or kiss the hand.

Important - The Black Madonna is located at the top of some stairs that may not be accessible for those with limited mobility, however you can still view the statue from the bottom of the stairs.

The Montserrat Museum also located there is home to pieces by world renowned artists including Berruguete, El Greco, Caravaggio, Fortuny, Rusiñol, Casas, Nonell, Picasso and Dali. The art dates back to the 13th century, and is a must for art lovers.

The Basilica of Montserrat

The Basilica of Montserrat is a splendid Gothic structure infused with Renaissance influences and traditional Catalan architectural elements.

The basilica suffered damage during Napoleon's war from 1808 to 1814 and underwent extensive reconstruction in the late 19th century. The central nave measures an impressive 58 meters in length and 15 meters in width and culminates at a height of 23 meters under the majestic dome.

Adorning the periphery of the church are numerous intricately designed hanging candles which are emblematic of a distinct Catalan style of jewellery-making that emerged in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War (1811-1812). The candles were donated by Catalan towns and associations and they collectively symbolize the enduring devotion of the people of Catalunya to St. Mary of Montserrat.

Within the central pillars of the nave, visitors can marvel at the amazing wooden sculptures depicting prophets: Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Daniel. Crafted by the skilled hands of Josep Llimona in 1896, these masterpieces contribute to the rich artistic tapestry of the Basilica and offer a timeless tribute to the enduring spiritual connection between the people of Catalunya and St. Mary of Montserrat.

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The Chapels of the Basilica

A series of captivating chapels surround the periphery of the basilica.

• ‍The Chapel of St. Scholastica beckons with sculptures masterfully crafted by Enric Claraso and Agapit Vallmitjana.
• ‍The Chapel of the Most Holy One unveils a grand stained glass window, a luminous partition distinguishing it from the nave. In the third chapel, immerse yourself in Josep Cusachs' poignant depiction of the exodus to Egypt, captured on canvas.
• ‍The Chapel of the Holy Christ cradles a profound image of Christ on the cross, a testament to Josep Llimona's artistic prowess.
• ‍The Chapel of the Immaculate Conception was inagurated in 1910 and stands as a splendid testament to the architectural finesse of Josep M. Pericas. A manifestation of his admiration for Antoni Gaudí, this chapel is a resplendent exemplar of Catalan architectural brilliance.

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Montserrat Natural Park

Although many travel to Montserrat to enjoy the Monastery, visitors should also enjoy the Montserrat Natural Park. Its around 300 meters from the Monastery and the highest peak in the park is called St. Jerome and it stands at 1236 meters above sea level. The park offers wonderful hiking trails and with incredible views of the surrounding area.

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Railways to Montserrat

There are three railways in total, but they are for different purposes.

1. The Rack Railway from the base of the mountain to Montserrat Monastery

The first is the Rack Railway (also known as the "funicular" or "Cremallera") and this is the train that takes you from the town at the base of the mountain (called "Monistrol de Montserrat") to the Montserrat Monastery.

The Cremallera railway has three stops in total:

• Monistrol de Montserrat: This is the station where those that are travelling by train from Barcelona will get on the Cremallera.
• Monistrol Vila: This is the station that most people travelling by coach on day tips get on at.
• Montserrat: This is at the other end of the Cremaallera and where you get off at the Monastery.

2. The Sant Joan Funicular (or Funicular de Santa Joan)

The Sant Joan Funicular is one of the two funicular's available at the monastery that go higher up again. People take a trip on the Sant Joan Funicular to enjoy the incredible views from the top of Catalunya or to access the hiking paths up there around the national park. There is also a small museum at the top (called Aula de la Natur) where visitors can get more information about the natural park. Unfortunately the Sant Joan Funicular isn't suitable for wheelchairs.

3. ‍The Santa Cova Funicular Railways that take visitors to the Santa Cova Cave.

Visitors take a ride on the Santa Cova Funicular to visit the Cave Chapel, which is referred to as the Santa Cova (thus the name of the funicular!). The cave is around a 15-20 minute walk from the funicular station, and its here where legend says the image of the Virgin Mary was seen by shepherds.