Is Montserrat Spain Worth Visiting?

Wondering if you should visit Montserrat, Spain or not? To make the long story short, my answer to this question is yes. Montserrat, Spain should definitely be a part of your trip when you visit the country. Below, you’ll find the reasons why.

What is Montserrat Spain known for?

Montserrat is a mountain region based in Catalonia, Spain. It is famous for its unusual appearance, and because it houses an ancient wooden statue of the Virgin and Child (the Black Madonna). Many believe that St. Luke carved the figure and that it was brought to Spain by St. Peter. But the figure was hidden in a cave and was only found in 880. Since then, the statue has been visited by numerous pilgrims.

What Can you do in Montserrat in Spain?

Whether you’re religious or not, Montserrat offers a number of attractions that can make your visit in Spain extra memorable. Here are just some of the things you can do when you visit Montserrat, Spain.

Ride the Cable Car To Get To the Summit

If you ever decide to go to Montserrat by train, your first destination must be Barcelona’s Plaza España. From there, you can purchase the ticket at a yellow ticket machine to a cable car ride called Aeri de Montserrat. A one way ticket costs €6.25 and a round-trip up and down ticket costs €9.25. That price doesn’t include the entrance fees to the various attractions Montserrat has to offer.

There are various ticket packages Montserrat offers, but I highly recommend the all in one bundle called the “Tot Montserrat (All Montserrat)” which costs €64.30 (previously priced at €53.85). The package includes the following:
1. Return ticket by train from Barcelona

2. The visit to the Throne of the Virgin 

3. Entrance to “Montserrat portes endins” Audiovisual room

4. Entrance to Museum of Montserrat

5. Funicular Sant Joan, and

6. Buffet Lunch

Here’s a snippet of our experience:

You can check the train timetables here and other transport options here. 

The Tot Monsterra is worth it. 

Walk Around the Montserrat Monastery

The Montserrat Monastery was founded in the 11th century. It was destroyed during the Peninsular War (1811-1812) and was rebuilt in the middle of the 19th century. Today, a community of monks reside in the monastery. They devote their lives to prayer, work, and to hosting pilgrims who come to worship the Black Madonna.

Visit The Basilica of Montserrat

Also known as The Black Madonna or La Moreneta, The Virgin of Montserrat is a famous wooden sculpture that was declared as the Patron Saint of Catalonia in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII. You can find the statue in the upper section of the basilica apse.

The Escolania choir is another thing you can find inside the basilica. The boys are schooled inside Montserrat and travel around the world to perform. You can find the boys singing from Mondays to Fridays at 13:00 and at 18:45 but they may not be available at some holidays of the year.

Take Photos of the Montserrat Natural Park

The needle-like rocks that form the picturesque massif of Montserrat were the effects of the years of wind and rain. The sedimentary rocks are made up of pebbles bound by sand and clay, are very hard and resistant to erosion.

When it comes to the greenery, the primary vegetation that can be found in Montserrat is mediterranean. With 1,250 different types of species, it is abundant in evergreens and other types such as oak, pine woods, borage, and sunflowers.

The combination of these natural wonders makes it really worth it, and refreshing to visit and take pictures of the Natural Park.

Go to the Montserrat Art Museum

Whether you’re a fan of visiting museums or not, you shouldn’t miss going to the Montserrat Art Museum mainly because it contains six very different and interesting collections.

There are more than 1,300 pieces exhibited in a chronological order. The oldest exhibit features an Egyptian stone coffin from the 13th century BC, and the most recent piece is a painting donated by Sean Scully back in 2010. You can also find works done by some of the world’s most famous artists such as Picasso, Dali, Monet, Sisley, and Picasso.

Best Time to go to Montserrat

There is no consensus on the web or suggestions from Montserrat’s site as to when the best time to go to Montserrat is. But according to these two sites (1, 2), September and October are the months with the highest chances of precipitation – so it might be best to avoid those two months.

Montserrat is open daily, even on Sundays. But in case you need to start planning when to go, make sure to check the news section of their website. They regularly update the site and publish the dates transports to the mountain are closed.

Is Montserrat Spain Worth Visiting?

Definitely, yes. The breathtaking views, the architecture of the monastery and the basilica, the history of the place, and the experience of riding the cable car makes it super worth it to visit Montserrat. 

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