Montserrat

Located just 40 kilometers away from Barcelona, Montserrat is a very popular destination for the Catalan people. In fact this venue is so popular with the locals that you would almost start to equate this place as a place of pilgrimage for the Catalans. The main attraction of Montserrat is the mountain. The mountain has rocks hanging from all corners and the chasms between the individual rocks are so distinct and consistent that you would feel as if the rocky protrusions have been carved with a saw. This unique geological formation of the mountain at Monteserrat has long fascinated the local and foreign artists.

The mountain of Montserrat served as a backdrop for Richard Wagner’s famous opera production Parsifal. Apart from that, the importance of this mountain in the lives of the Catalan people can be judged from the fact that the cult of the virgin of Montserrat, which is locally known as “La Moreneta”, is the most popular cult in the province of Catalonia. Located at the foothill of this dark mountain and housed in the Benedictine abbey, the “moreneta” or the “Mare de Deu de Montserrat” has become world famous for its boy’s choir and school of music.

This Monastery at the foothill of this mountain was blacklisted during General Franco’s regime for being a stronghold of the Catalan language and culture. However as a mark of protest against General Franco’s dictatorial regime the monks at this monastery continued to practice their culture. The monastery also served as a safe refuge for many Catalan nationalists who fled to avoid detention by the military loyal to general Franco. Thanks to their efforts, the Catalan culture till date is continuing unabated.

Montserrat can be reached by train, by car and even by bus. If you want to reach here by rail, take a train from Pl. Espanya station. Leaving after every two hours from 9:11 am, the location is reached within an hour. Once you reach the mountain, a funicular ride will take you to the mountain cliff.