Excursion to Montserrat from Barcelona with English-speaking guides. Driving through picturesque villages of the province, we reach the incomparable setting of the Montserrat Mountains, a spectacular and unusually-shaped massif that at its summit houses the image of the Virgin of Montserrat, patron saint of Catalonia. Visit of the Montserrat Sanctuary and the Magic Mountain, with its surprising rounded and elongated shapes.

We begin this unforgettable half-day excursion early in the morning, departing from Barcelona in a comfortable, air-conditioned coach. Accompanied by an expert guide who will share fascinating insights along the way about the history, geography, and legends surrounding Montserrat, we journey to one of the most emblematic and spiritual places in Catalonia. Upon reaching the base of the mountain, we board the scenic rack railway train, which takes us on a slow ascent through breathtaking landscapes of unique rock formations, offering unmatched views of the natural surroundings.

At the summit, we visit the Montserrat Monastery, a significant religious site that houses the revered image of La Moreneta – the Virgin of Montserrat and patron saint of Catalonia. You’ll have free time to explore the grounds, enter the basilica, admire the monastery’s architecture, and, if schedule permits, listen to the renowned boys’ choir of Montserrat, L’Escolania. The peaceful natural surroundings also invite you to take a quiet stroll, soak in the views, and capture memorable photos.

The tour also includes a tasting of traditional liqueurs made by the Benedictine monks and access to the Montserrat Audiovisual Space, where interactive displays will help you learn more about monastic life, the history of the sanctuary, and the spiritual significance of this extraordinary place.

After the visit, we return to Barcelona in time for lunch, with hearts full of peace and unforgettable memories from this special site.

Note: This half-day activity is available both in the morning (departure at 8:00 AM, return around 1:30 PM) and in the afternoon (departure at 3:00 PM, return around 8:00 PM). Please select your preferred option.

– Transportation by modern coach with air conditioning and reclining seats
– Accompanying guide service
– A tasting of 4 typical Montserrat liquors
– Entrance to the “Espai Audiovisual Montserrat Portes Endins”
– Rack Railway (only in the afternoon)
– Travelers insurance

In the heart of Catalonia rises a mountain with unique forms and a mass of grey stones, a spectacular massive that harbours on its tops the image of the Virgin of Montserrat, the patron saint of Catalonia. In this natural park full with pine trees and holm oaks and inhabited by squirrels, wild boar and genets amongst other species exist numerous routes and guided visits to know its corners. At its summit the Sanctuary that is dedicated to the Black Madonna, a 12th century carving in Romanesque style of the Virgin, rises majestically.  The architectural complex is formed by various squares and the basilica, originally of the 16th century and reconstructed in the 19^th century.

The Black Madonna of Montserrat. The veneration of this Virgin was expanded through Spanish America when the nun Bernat Boil accompanied Christopher Columbus to the New World. It is said that an image of the Virgin of Montserrat appeared in a cave of the mountain. Situated at 20 kilometres northwest of Barcelona, the monastery was founded in the year 1025 by the abbot Oliba, although there is evidence that there was a chapel in the year 888 dedicated to the Mother of God. In the 12th century the Romanesque church was built and in the year 1223 the first children’s choir “Escolania” in Europe was founded. Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat patroness of Catalonia. Saint Ignatius of Loyola arrived in the year 1500 as pilgrim.

New Audio-visual Area. The new audio-visual area of Montserrat is a space completely reformed that reflects the will of the monastery to respond to and to give content to the visit of thousands of pilgrims and visitors who want to know what is and what means Montserrat. The exhibition revolves around three fundamental elements: the mountain, the monastery and the sanctuary. In its content very relevant aspects stand out, such as the presence since the end of the 12^th century of the Holy Image and the singularity of a monastery with almost more than 1000 years of history and a continuous and relevant weight in the spiritual, social and cultural life of a country, as is shown by the editorial Publicacions de l’Abadia de Montserrat, the Museum, the Escolania or, recently, Montserrat Television. Montserrat is shown in all its complexity and wealth through an expository tour which uses different and innovative museum resources, as well as modern audio-visuals, thus leading the visitor into the mountain, the history, the monastery or the sense of monastic life in a very vivid way. The tour comes to an emotive end where the Escolania plays an outstanding role.

Rack Train Montserrat, a spectaculaire voyage. On a 15-minute track and surrounded by the outlines of the mountain, the Rack Train of Montserrat takes you directly in to the centre of the monastery. It offers a privilged view and a spectacular environment.