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What to see in the Sanctuary of Montserrat, a place full of magic and culture. With unrivaled routes, postcard views and gadgets that tell the story of the abbey that lies on the mountain. Barcelona Lands offers you the best tours and the best experiences so that you can enjoy a unique place in religious history.

 

The Black Madonna in the Basilica of Montserrat                    

The Black Virgin of Montserrat is the patron saint of Catalonia, and people from all over the world come to worship here and see this miraculous sculpture. According to legend, it was discovered by the shepherds of the region in the 9th century; Suddenly they noticed a bright light that indicated the place of the Santa Cova (Holy Cave of Montserrat), where the statue was hidden. When the shepherds wanted to transfer the Black Virgin to the nearby town of Manresa, it became so heavy that they considered it as a sign to leave the statue on the mountain. The Black Madonna is one of the exceptional wooden images of the Virgin in a totally black color. It has a mystical healing power and protects people from negative energy. It is located in the Basilica of Montserrat and can be visited for free, 50 km from Barcelona.

 

The Benedictine Abbey

The Benedictine Abbey of Montserrat It has always had a powerful status during all the historical periods of Catalonia and is still in force. You can easily enter its Basilica, but the other sacred spaces of the monastery are closed to the public or have special hours. The first notion of abbey dates back to the 9th century; however, the solid expansion of the complex took place in 1025. There are numerous legends about the life of the Benedictine monks; for example, they had to give the most austere wows, as a vow to remain forever on the top of the mountain in seclusion, silence and poverty. The old Abbey building was almost entirely demolished by Napoleonic troops, who tried to find the Holy Grail on the Abbey walls. The building that can be seen today is the result of the 19th century remodeling. During Franco’s dictatorship, La Abadía de Montserrat became a symbol of opposition to that leading political power. It was the only place that offered indigenous religious services in Catalan despite the official prohibition of this language and many anti-nationalist leaders took refuge behind the walls of this monastery.

 

El Museo de Arte de Montserrat

El Museo de Monserrat cuenta con una enorme colección de obras maestras artísticas de los siglos XIII al XX. Aquí puedes ver obras de El Greco, Caravaggio, Berruguete, además de pinturas de los impresionistas franceses Pissarro, Degas, Monet y genios del siglo XX como Dali , Picasso y Rusiñol. El museo también alberga reliquias de arte egipcio antiguo junto con iconos y joyas de los siglos XV al XX. El diseño del edificio del museo también merece una atención especial, ya que fue realizado por Puig i Cadafalch, un famoso arquitecto catalán de época art nouveau.

 

The audiovisual room dedicated to the history of Montserrat

Inside the audiovisual room, you will find a curious exhibition dedicated to the history and legends of the Montserrat mountain park, the miraculous power of the Black Madonna and the Benedictine Abbey. Here, you can get a more detailed and structured description of the sacred role and powerful status of Montserrat in Catalonia through the archive images and videos.

 

 

Funiculars of San Juan

From the main observation platform where the Benedictine Abbey is located, you can continue your adventures by taking the Sant Joan funicular that will take you higher to the other observation platform. There you will find the other hiking trails that lead to the highest peaks in the mountains (eg Sant Jeroni) and a tourist walk to the Ermita de Sant Joan.

 

 

Funicular of the Santa Cueva

The Santa Cova funicular connects the Monastery area with the historic cave, with an old chapel attached to the rock. According to past stories, some shepherds found the Virgin of Montserrat, now venerated inside the sanctuary. After 3 a tour of 3 mim. By funicular we arrive where the monumental Rosary begins, the most important outdoor sculpture complex of Catalan Modernism, with works by Antoni Gaudí and Josep Llimona, among others. There is also an exhibition dedicated to funiculars, their operation and their history. The funicular travels a 262-meter route, and overcomes a 118-meter drop.

 

   Excursions near Montserrat

Monastery of Santa Cecilia

If it is not your first visit to Montserrat, the monastery of Santa Cecilia is worth a visit. Just a 5 minute drive from the Benedictine Abbey, it is interesting from an architectural and historical point of view. It is an old Roman church from the 11th century, which was restored at the beginning of the 20th century by a great modernist architect Puig i Cadafalch. If you like modern art, don’t skip the inside of the church! The interiors have been recently redesigned by a world-famous abstract artist, Sean Scully, and since June 2015, his imaginative works have been open to the public. The large-scale geometric paintings of him in vibrant colors together with the ancient stone walls of the church create a rare and unusual atmosphere.

 

Salnitre Caves

Montserrat is also a great magnet for people interested in caving. There are guided tours of the Salnitre Caves, which can be accessed from the nearby town of Collbató. Visitors are only shown the underground area of the initial 500 meters, since the rest of the territories are closed to the public. There, you will be able to witness the formation of stalactites and the mysterious underground architecture with several caves. Be aware that you will find some obstacles in your way; for example, the path to the legendary Sala del Pozo del Diablo (Devil’s Well Cave) goes down the steepest and narrowest steps. You should read all the useful information on the web and check the exact schedule of the tours (they depend on weather conditions) make sure you are fully prepared.

 

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TOURS WE OFFER IN MONTSERRAT

 

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