Montserrat — Local services in Monistrol de Montserrat

Montserrat Monastery, perched high amongst the mystical, saw-toothed mountains near Barcelona, is a place where the divine intertwines with the natural world, creating an ambiance of unparalleled serenity and beauty. This Benedictine abbey, with its rich history and religious significance, is not only a pilgrimage site but also a retreat for those seeking peace and inspiration amidst Spain's spectacular landscapes.The journey to Montserrat itself is a mesmerizing experience, with winding roads and a rack railway leading you through lush scenery and offering glimpses of the monastery, dramatically nestled on the mountainside. Upon arrival, the panoramic views from Montserrat are nothing short of breathtaking. The vista stretches across the Catalan lowlands to the Mediterranean, with the mountain's unique rock formations framing the skyline. It's a place that effortlessly instills a sense of awe and calm in its visitors.The monastery complex, with its beautiful basilica, museum, and sacred sculptures, including the famed Black Madonna, exudes a spiritual atmosphere that resonates through the quiet courtyards and ornate chapels. The beauty of Montserrat is also in its natural surroundings, with well-marked trails leading into the mountains, inviting visitors to explore the serene landscape, dotted with hermitages and offering stunning views at every turn.Montserrat's combination of spiritual heritage, natural beauty, and the serenity of its mountainous setting makes it a unique and unforgettable destination. The monastery serves not only as a site of religious pilgrimage but as a sanctuary for anyone looking to find peace, inspiration, or simply to marvel at the beauty of our world from a spectacular vantage point. A visit to Montserrat Monastery is truly a soul-stirring experience that lingers long after you've descended from its...

Full disclosure: we never got to go because their website and the ticket machines at the plaza espana station would not take US credit cards for charges greater than something like $25. And if you want to pay by cash, the ticket machine won’t take any bills greater than 50 euros.

After trying several times to buy the adult tickets online for full day passes ( including railway, cable cars and lunch package), we decided to buy the tickets at the ticket machines located at the plaza espana. After several failed attempts, we finally found a person who explained to us through our translation app that for some strange reason, US credit cards are not accepted for charges greater than $25. And euro bills greater than 50 are not accepted. We only had 100 bills so our cash would not work. I can accept this strange policy but what infuriates me is that none of this was explained online or in writing on the ticket machines. Had we known this policy, we would have come prepared with smaller bills or made other arrangements instead of waking up early trying to catch this early train to Montserrat. It put a damper on our whole travel plans. I thought I’d do a public service to US travelers and post this notice so y’all can go better prepared...

A must visit place for first timers in Spain. A world renowned Boys Choir(Escolania) is spell binding in the acoustics of this ancient church that has seen its share of destruction during the Napoleon invasion and the Civil War in 1939. Make sure you get there early to save a good spot for the Choir and be mindful of the timing of when Choir happens.

Lastly if you like Hiking, make it a point to hike up to Sant. Jeroni. A 2 hour round trip if you take the Funicular. On hot day, make sure you have head gear and enough water for the hike as it’s exposed to sun on several places. The hike is fantastic and the views are worth the effort to see the Pyrenees Peaks with the deep green valley below. Just spell binding.

To get there, Take the train to Espanya station. Board the FSG train to Montserrat. Best option is to buy the package ticket (appx 45 Euros when we went) available from machines at Espanya and/or other stations. It includes tickets for Metro, FSG to MontSerrat and the Funicular round trips.

There is a decent cafe at top with simple choices for vegetarians and Vegans. Enjoy and don’t forget to say “Ola”...