HISTORY OF MONTSERRAT ABBEY
We all know Barcelona for its beaches, the sun, the Sea, etc. But one of the most outstanding things from the city of Barcelona is the fact that you can find the mountains pretty close to the beach, today, we want to talk to you about Barcelona’s most impressive mountain, Montserrat is a mountain with many peaks: Sant Jeroni, Montgrós and Miranda de les Agulles. It’s so close to Barcelona that many citizens come there a few times a year: it’s a place full of history, from its stones to its abbey.
The mountain’s name means literally “saw mountain”, because the shape of the mountains and the many pikes are curious and different from any other. They really look saw and that is what makes them so popular among citizens and tourists. As a curious fact, the Caribbean island of Montserrat was named by Christopher Columbus, who also discovered America, after this mountain.
The many pikes of Montserrat
There are three pikes in Montserrat that you can climb and hike: the highest is Sant Jeroni, at 1,236 metres. It is well connected to the abbey so you won’t find many difficulties to climb it. But beware of the weather and the day, and be equipped with a typical hiking kit.
How to go to Montserrat from Barcelona?
Many people go from Barcelona to Montserrat. The best way is through the trains of Generalitat de Catalunya, also known as Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya (FGC). If you take the train on Plaça Espanya Station you will find yourself in Montserrat pretty soon. Also, from the abbey you can take the “funicular” de Sant Joan, a railway that literally takes you into the heart of Montserrat.
You can also go with a not very long car trip, so if you happen to rent a car, do not be afraid to try and park in Montserrat.
In the abbey you can get into the church and pay your respects to la Moreneta, a black virgin which is very famous in Catalonia and Barcelona. If you are lucky, you will hear her hymn, called ‘Rosa d’abril’, sung by a choir of children that will melt your heart.
We recommend you to go by train and walk all the way from the bottom of the mountain to its top. It is a classic pilgrimage that many many people, from scholars to elder people, take to go to the abbey.
It doesn’t matter if you are not religious. You are welcome in Montserrat, full of history and magic. The views from the mountains are awesome, you can see most of Catalunya on a sunny day, and you will surely get the best picture of the day.
If you happen to be in Barcelona in vacation, do not miss the chance to visit Montserrat. Religious or not you will be amazed by the mountain’s shapes, by the abbey, the church, the ‘Moreneta’ and you will be able to tell everyone that you visited one of Catalonia and Spain’s most beautiful landmarks.