| Important Information about Barcelona to Montserrat Day Trip | |
|---|---|
| Duration of Trip | 1 Day |
| Best Time to visit | May-Aug |
| Type of Trip | Solo, Backpacking Trip |
| What is Famous for | Hikes, Cathedrals, Museums |
Plan a road trip to the mountainous region of Montserrat, a spectacular destination from Barcelona. Settled on the top of the hill is the spectacular Benedictine Monastery of Santa Maria de Montserrat and its beautiful Royal Basilica, where the holy statue of the La Moreneta or Black Madonna can be found.
Both are worth visiting in one trip to pray at Black Madonna and take a great hike on the mountain trails. The Montserrat Mountain offers stunning views because of its awesome cliffs. Montserrat is just about 64 kilometers from Barcelona, so the trip to it is usually taken as a day trip. You can also book a rental car and enjoy the scenic drive to this stunning location. Following are some of the popular things that you can do on a day trip to Monserrat.
Visit The Benedictine Abbey & Basilica
Climb up the mountain to see the Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey. It is one of the top day trip options for people visiting Barcelona. Checkout the Benedictine Monastery and a basilica famous for the Virgin of Montserrat, also known as the Black Madonna. It is the main attraction for many of the pilgrims. The Monastery dates back to the 10th century and is still home to some 150 monks. And the best part about it is that entrance to the Monastery is free.
During the war, the Benedictine Abbey was a refuge for scholars, artists, and politicians. Nowadays, the Museu de Montserrat houses work from Picasso, Salvador Dali, and more.
Listen to the Famous Montserrat Boys Choir
The Basilica is also home to the legendary L’Esconia Montserrat, the Boys Choir, one of the oldest choirs in Europe. It is famous for its world-renowned performance, therefore visiting Montserrat without seeing one of these powerful counterpoints and Gregorian Chant performances is a complete no-no. No matter which time of year you visit, you can still witness this positive energy, as there are two daily performances at the Basilica at 1:00 pm and 6:45 pm.
Marvel at the Montserrat Museum
If you are a history buff, head to the lovely Montserrat Museum in Santa Maria square. It features six permanent collections of more than 1,300 relics together with some temporary displays. The museum houses artifacts from Egypt, Cyprus, and Mesopotamia, along with artwork by famous artists like Picasso and Dali. You can also find paintings by some Catalan artists and french impressions like Monet, Renoir, and Degas.
Every room here is supported by impressive iron structures and has a series of objects representing the theme of the room. You can also find a goldsmithing section, modern art, sculptures, and even 13th-century-old paintings here.
Explore Various Hiking Trails
After seeing the holy sight and relic that is the Montserrat Monastery and the Black Madonna, start your hiking adventure. The mountains all around the Basilica are part of Montserrat National Park and have a sheer variety of trails that will take you to chapels, crumbling shrines, crosses, and of course, gorgeous viewpoints overlooking the landscape. With five different options, you’ll find the hike suitable for your level of difficulty. Just get yourself to the tourist information booth, grab a map, and head for an exciting adventure.
The popular Sant Jeroni hike is by far the highest, longest, and most difficult. However, it also comes with some outstanding panoramic views over the mountains. You can also take the Saint Joan funicular up to this point to reduce the overall elevation on the Sant Jeroni hike.
The Funiculars
Take the that brings you down to the walking trail along the mountain and drops you off at a path to Santa Cova Cave. You can check out the Santa Cova chapel here. On the contrary, the Sant Joan funicular takes you to the very top of the mountain. This 100-meter sheer climb is as gorgeous as it is ghastly. Here you can visit the Sant Joan chapel. It’s said that on a clear day you can see all of Catalunya from the top of the mountain. It’s from this point that you can take the most gorgeous walks.