Montserrat Magic Montain

More information about Montserrat

One of the most unique places in Catalonia is located only 60km away from Barcelona.

With its peculiar shapes of massif and unusual semi-rounded rock formations that are visible from a great distance, the mountain is composed of strikingly orange conglomerate of sedimentary rock. Montserrat was designated as a National Park in 1987 and covers an area of approximately 3,600 hectares with a large variety of flora and fauna. It is also a perfect place for hiking, climbing and caving. The highest peak, Sant Jeroni, stands 1,238 m above sea level.

The wealth of natural scenery is complemented by its status as a place of spiritual significance since it is the site of Our Lady of Montserrat or Santa Maria de Montserrat, the virgin that gives its name to the monastery, a black Madonna also known as La Moreneta "(the little dark one") who is the patron saint of Catalonia. The legend says she had appeared inside a cave and found by some children shepherds in the 10th century. More than four million people go to visit her every year from all around the world as she is thought to work miracles.

In addition, it houses a Benedictine Abbey where monks live since its foundation in the 12th century which is also on two of Europe's main pilgrim routes: Camino de Santiago (the Way of Saint James) and Camí de Sant Ignasi (the Ignatian Way). 

Art has also a place in Montserrat, a magnificent museum with works of famous artists such as Picasso, Cases, Russinyol, Dalí, Caravaggio and el Greco among others and masters of Impressionism like Monet, Degas, Renoir... make this place one of the best art collections of Catalonia.