Montserrat Monastery and Mountain Hike with Funicular from Barcelona

The Benedictine abbey of Montserrat

The abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat was founded in the 11th century, in 1025, on a ledge about 720 metres up the massif, and a community of Benedictine monks still lives here. It grew into one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Christian world, was burned in 1811 during the Peninsular War and rebuilt over the following century, which explains the mix of Gothic remains and later stone buildings around the square.

The guided visit of about an hour covers the square, the facade and the story of the monastery, with entry included. Many people ask whether Montserrat Monastery is worth visiting before a hike; starting here gives meaning to the paths you walk later, which pilgrims and hermits have used for centuries.

The Basilica and the Black Madonna

Inside the basilica, consecrated in 1592, sits La Moreneta, the Black Madonna, a 12th-century Romanesque wooden statue and the patron saint of Catalonia. Legend says shepherds found her in a cave on the mountain, and her dark colour comes from centuries of aged varnish. Visitors climb a richly decorated stairway behind the altar to see her close up.

Your guide explains the traditions linked to the statue and the basilica. On many weekdays the boys' choir of the Escolania sings here around midday; if the timing is right during your free time, it is one of the most moving moments of a visit to Montserrat. Remember that the basilica is an active place of worship, so silence and modest dress are expected.

The funicular railway to the upper mountain

From the monastery, a funicular railway climbs the steep rock face to the upper paths of the mountain, about 250 metres higher, in only a few minutes. The track is among the steepest in Spain, and the view back over the abbey roofs and the Llobregat valley opens as the car rises. The funicular ticket is included in this tour.

Travellers often ask how to get to the top of Montserrat without a long climb from the monastery. The funicular is the answer, and it allows this tour to spend its walking time on the scenic high paths instead of on a steep ascent. Stand or sit facing downhill for the widest view as the car climbs.

The mountain hike on the pilgrim paths

The heart of the day is a hike of about two hours on paths that pilgrims and hermits have followed for hundreds of years. The trail weaves between giant pillars of conglomerate rock, formed from river pebbles about 50 million years ago, and skirts ravines where small hermitages cling to the cliffs. Holm oaks, rosemary and thyme line the way, and wild goats are often seen on the ledges.

From the viewpoints the panorama takes in the valleys of central Catalonia, the outline of the Pyrenees and, on clear days, the Mediterranean. The pace is steady rather than fast and walking poles are provided, but there are uneven sections and some gradients, so this Montserrat hiking day trip suits travellers who walk regularly.

Free time at the monastery market and the return

After the hike you have about 45 minutes back in the monastery area. Along the path to the basilica, farmers from the surrounding villages run stalls selling local cheeses, honey, dried figs and mató, a fresh curd cheese traditionally eaten with honey; it makes a good snack after the walk.

The van then drives about 55 minutes back to Barcelona, to the meeting point on Passeig de Gràcia. Montserrat Natural Park has been protected since 1987, and the best time to visit Montserrat for hiking is spring or autumn, when the air is clear and temperatures are pleasant on the high paths. If you prefer a sit-down meal, the monastery area also has a self-service restaurant and cafés.