Montserrat Monastery Tickets - Prices and Visitor Information

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What is Montserrat Monastery?

• Montserrat Monastery is one of Catalonia's most important religious and cultural landmarks.
• The Benedictine monastery, officially known as Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey, is 50 kilometers outside Barcelona and was founded in the 10th century and remains home to a community of Benedictine monks.
• It is famous for the Black Madonna, the Basilica of Montserrat and the mountain range that surrounds it in the Montserrat National Park.
• The highest peak is 1236 meters and offers views across Catalonia on clear days.

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Quick Information

• Location: Montserrat National Park
• Suggested Visit Duration: Morning tour from Barcelona - 6 hours
• What You Can See/Do: Ride cable car, visit the basilica and monastery and enjoy the mountain range.

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Is Montserrat Monastery Worth Visiting?

Yes, Montserrat Monastery is one of the most popular day trips from Barcelona.

• It combines beautiful mountain scenery, centuries of religious history and some of the best panoramic views in Catalonia.
• Whether you are interested in history, religion, architecture, hiking or simply enjoying beautiful mountain scenery, Montserrat offers an experience that is very different from the city attractions found in central Barcelona.

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What You Can See at Montserrat Monastery

• Home to the famous Black Madonna (La Moreneta)
• Enjoy mountain scenery and views
• Historic Benedictine monastery dating back nearly 1,000 years
• Opportunity to hear the renowned boys' choir (Escolania)
• Excellent hiking trails for all

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About The Basilica of Montserrat

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

It suffered extensive damage during the Peninsular War (1808–1814), particularly following French attacks on Montserrat in 1811 and 1812, and was then rebuilt during the 19th century.

The church has intricately designed hanging candles which are emblematic of a Catalan style of jewellery-making that emerged in the aftermath of the Spanish Civil War. The candles were donated by Catalan towns and associations and they symbolise the devotion of the people of Catalonia to St. Mary of Montserrat.

In the central pillars of the nave, you can see wooden sculptures depicting prophets Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and Daniel that were crafted by Josep Llimona in 1896.

The Black Madonna

The Black Madonna (La Moreneta - the patron saint of Catalonia) is a 12th-century wooden statue of the Virgin Mary and Child. It is one of Spain's most important religious icons and attracts pilgrims and visitors from around the world.

The statue is behind a sheet of glass to protect it but one hand of the statue is accessible through a hole and it holds a sphere that symbolises the world and it is common for visitors to touch or kiss the hand.

Important - The Black Madonna is at the top of some stairs so it may not be accessible for visitors with limited mobility, however it can still viewed from the bottom of the stairs.

The Abbey is home to the Montserrat Museum which houses a collection of paintings, archaeological artefacts and religious treasures. Highlights include works by Salvador Dalí, Pablo Picasso, El Greco and Caravaggio, making it one of Catalonia's most surprising art collections.

The Escolania de Montserrat (The Boys Choir)

The Escolania de Montserrat is one of Europe's oldest boys' choirs and one of the most prestigious musical institutions in Spain. It is based at the monastery and has been associated with the abbey for centuries, with records of a choir existing there from at least the 14th century.

The choir is made up of boys, typically aged between 9 and 14, who live and study at the monastery while receiving an education alongside specialist musical training. The Escolania is internationally renowned for its performances of sacred music and Catalan choral traditions.

Visitors to Montserrat can often hear the choir perform in the basilica where they sing traditional hymns including the famous Virolai, dedicated to the Virgin of Montserrat. Hearing the Escolania perform is one of the most memorable parts of a trip to Montserrat.

The Chapels of the Basilica

• ‍The Chapel of St. Scholastica: Has sculptures that were 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. It also has 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 inaugurated in 1910 and stands as a testament to the architectural finesse of Josep M. Pericas. A manifestation of his admiration for Antoni Gaudí, the chapel is an example of Catalan architectural brilliance.

Montserrat Natural Park

• You can enjoy the Montserrat Natural Park. The highest peak in the park is called 'St. Jerome' and stands at 1236 meters above sea level. It has hiking trails with incredible views of the surrounding area.

Railways to Montserrat

• Visitors can use three different rail systems at Montserrat.
• The Cremallera Rack Railway transports you from Monistrol de Montserrat to the monastery, while the Sant Joan and Santa Cova funiculars provide access to viewpoints, hiking trails and religious sites higher up the mountain.

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 for 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 trips get on at.
• Montserrat: The end where you get off to visit the Monastery.

The Sant Joan Funicular (or Funicular de Santa Joan)

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

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

• Ride the Santa Cova Funicular to visit the Cave Chapel, which is referred to as the 'Santa Cova'.
• 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.

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