About this experience
Located 50 km from Barcelona, among the magnificent Montserrat rocks, lies the Benedictine monastery - a spiritual symbol and religious center of Catalonia. During the tour, you will learn about the ancient history of the abbey, visit the main relic of the monastery - the 'Black Madonna', walk along the picturesque Path of Prayers to the Holy Grotto, listen to the boys' choir. You will also see monuments of Catalan modernism, visit a colorful farmer's market, and have lunch at a family Catalan restaurant.
What to Expect
History of Montserrat and the Black Madonna
The excursion is best started at 7:00 - you will see Catalonia waking up with the sunrise, observe the monks' morning slow work at the monastery, and prepare for visiting an important religious landmark of the region. The monastery itself is located at an altitude of 725 meters above sea level. Morning visit will save you from waiting in long lines, and you will quickly get to the main treasure of the monastery - the 'Black Madonna': a 12th-century statue of the Mother of God with a child on her knees. According to local beliefs, she can fulfill wishes, just touch the orb in her hand, symbolizing the Universe. Along the way, you will learn about the founding history of the monastery, as well as hear about how the abbey was completely destroyed and rebuilt after some time. We will also talk about the times of the Civil War when the monastery was the only place where Catalans were married.
Path of Prayers and the Holy Grotto
Among the five classic hiking routes in Montserrat, one of the most interesting (and, importantly, the easiest!) is the Path of Prayers leading to the Holy Grotto, where, according to legend, the very first sculpture of the Madonna of Montserrat was found in the 9th century (replaced by the 12th-century statue now located in the monastery basilica and being the most important relic of the monastery). A walk along this route will not only provide an opportunity to see beautiful mountain landscapes but will also be interesting for art lovers: the landscape includes an impressive ensemble of modernist sculpture. This is part of the Montserrat complex area commonly referred to as an open-air museum. On the way back from the Holy Grotto, we will visit the boys' choir in the Main Basilica of the monastery - the pure and beautiful singing will bring a special atmosphere to your journey through the sacred places of Catalonia.
Monastery Market of Cheeses and Family Catalan Restaurant
The next item on the agenda will be a small market set up on the approach to the monastery. You will be offered to taste numerous types of cheeses (goat, cow, sheep), various kinds of honey (lime, orange, and others), cheesecakes, olive oil, natural marmalade, and nut sweets. If desired, you will be able to purchase all these products: family cheese dairies located at the foot of the Montserrat mountain produce their goods according to original recipes and are only sold at Montserrat. At the end of the tour, we will take a car ride around the entire Montserrat mountain range for you to fully enjoy the surrounding views and then head to a family Catalan restaurant with superb cuisine and affordable prices, where tourists are scarce. During our wonderful lunch with Spanish wine, we will share impressions of this interesting and eventful day.
Organizational Details
- Travel time from Barcelona to the monastery including the ascent along the mountain serpentine will take about 50 minutes
- Don't forget to wear a Panama hat or cap, and also cover your shoulders to avoid sunburn
- Additional expenses: lunch, souvenirs
Details of the 'Path of Prayers' route
- Distance: about 1.5 km one way
- Difficulty level: low
- The route is suitable for tourists of almost any age and any level of fitness
- Duration of the walk: about 30-40 minutes one way
