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Montserrat is one of the most emblematic places in Catalonia. The unique shape of the massif, the richness of its natural surroundings, and its spiritual tradition attract hundreds of thousands of people every year.
There is a wide range of activities to do in Montserrat. If you enjoy hiking or practicing adventure sports, the natural environment of the mountain allows you to climb or caving, and you will also find a vast network of paths and trails with varying levels of difficulty for all ages. If you are looking for a quieter option, you can visit the abbey, enter the basilica to see the Virgin Mary and listen to the choir, or even visit the Montserrat Museum where you can see works by Dalí and Picasso.
The Monastery and the "Moreneta"
The Monastery of Montserrat is one of the best-known monasteries in Catalonia, and also one of the most visited. Currently, the monastery is home to a Benedictine community of about eighty monks, and it is still a place of meeting and prayer for thousands of the faithful who visit the Virgin every day. During the visit to the abbey, you cannot miss the opportunity to hear the Montserrat choir “Escolania de Montserrat”, one of the oldest children's choirs in Europe. Remember that to enter the basilica and see the choir sing, you must make a prior reservation through their website.
The Virgin of Montserrat is also popularly known as "La Moreneta," (the little dark one) since one of its main distinguishing features is the black colour of its skin. "La Moreneta" is the patron saint of Catalonia, and her feast day is celebrated on April 27th. If you visit the monastery on this day, sardana dances are organized, as well as liturgical celebrations where, of course, the Montserrat choir sings.
Sant Jeroni
If you want to enjoy nature and spectacular views, you will have to climb to the top of Sant Jeroni, the highest point in the Montserrat massif. On the sunniest days, from the top, you can see the Catalan Pyrenees and the Mediterranean Sea. During the ascent to Sant Jeroni, you will discover three of Montserrat best-known hermitages.
The Montserrat Museum
One of the most relevant cultural spaces in Montserrat is its Museum, located in the basement of the Plaza de Santa María de Montserrat and in the foundations of the monastery tower, the museum houses a collection of works of art by Catalan authors such as Fortuny, Dalí, or Rusiñol, and other well-known painters such as Picasso, Le Corbusier, or Chagall. One of the most outstanding spaces in the museum is the hall where you can see the restored walls of the first medieval monastery that were discovered during the restoration works of the site.
Hiking routes
Montserrat Natural Park is perfect for excursions and enjoying the scenery. Throughout the mountain, there is a wide variety of routes with different levels of difficulty that go through places of great interest such as the Santa Cova. One of the best-known routes is the one that goes from the Monastery of Montserrat to the Cross of Sant Miquel. It is a simple route that does not reach three kilometers and allows you to enjoy magnificent views of the Montserrat Abbey.
Climbing in Montserrat
If you like climbing, the mountain of Montserrat is one of Catalonia's leading settings, with more than 5,600 routes with different levels of difficulty. Bear in mind that, as it is a Natural Park, it is a protected area and this activity is regulated with the aim of preserving the rock-dwelling birds of the Natural Park. For this reason, we recommend that you consult the mountain map where the protected areas are indicated.
The Salnitre Caves
Inside the mountain of Montserrat, there are more than 100 caves. They are known by different names such as the Caves of Montserrat, Salnitre Caves, or Collbató Caves. Precisely, access to the caves is from the municipality of Collbató. Inside the caves, there is a 500-metre route through a series of galleries, passages, and rooms with whimsical shapes and allows you to enjoy a truly spectacular landscape. Visits are led by expert guides who explain the entire geological process that has led to the formation of the caves as well as some of their legends.
To get to Montserrat, you have many transport alternatives. If you come by private vehicle, before reaching the abbey, you will find a parking lot where you can park your car for the whole day. However, if you want to use a sustainable means of transportation, "the rack railway" is the best option that will also allow you to enjoy the views as you go up the mountain.