Artisticly hidden, the monastery of Our Lady of Montserrat is one of the most important, if not to say the most important religious monument not only of Catalonia but also of the whole country. The very word “Monserrat” in Catalan means “irregular mountain” and could not describe better the natural landscape surrounding the monastery. If you ever find your self in Barcelona , a visit to Monserrat Monastery is a total MUST.
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How to get there
From Barcelona it is about an hour away . It is a well-known day trip destination and if you find yourself in the area I would suggest you pay a visit. There are regular train services, which end up at the cable car stop that will take you up to the mountain .
The route with the cable car, lasts 5 minutes and has great views. Coming by train from Barcelona, you will get off at Aeri de Montserrat from which you will take the cable car. If you want to get the rack, then you will take a stop later, at Monistrol de Montserrat. The cogwheel takes 15 minutes to climb up to the monastery and certainly does not give the same view as the aerial, although the last wagon has very good spot for pictures. But you can sit, feel more comfortable and also have the ability to go up if you are a person with some disability.
Check more info about the routes here
The monastery of the Benedictine monks hosts the beloved statue of St. Mary . The Virgin of Montserrat is widely known as La Moreneta (Dark One) due to the dark color that appears in its form. Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat, Patron of Catalonia, in 1881.
Another top event of your visit to the Monastery is the opportunity to hear the famous and famous Royal Children’s Choir, dating back to the 13th century. The performances are free of charge and take place in Basilica, every day at 1 noon, with the exception of Christmas holidays in July and some festive periods during the year.
Evita.
