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Montserrat Monastery in Catalonia, Spain, at dusk

Montserrat Attractions: Things to Do in Montserrat, Spain

Montserrat Monastery is one of the most-visited places in Catalonia, Spain. It is location not too far from Barcelona, making it one of the most popular day trips from the city.

Montserrat Monastery boasts a rich history and a dramatic backdrop of the serrated peaks that give Montserrat its name.

There are several things to do at Montserrat Monastery, plus viewpoints and hikes to enjoy in Montserrat Natural Park.

Admiring the Black Madonna of Montserrat is at the top of the list for most first-time visitors to the monastery. Known as La Moreneta (the dark-skinned one), Montserrat’s Black Madonna dates back to the 12th century.

The Basilica at Montserrat houses the Black Madonna but it has a stunning interior with an impressive main altar and lots of art works. Look for the lamps hung along the sides: they are donated by entities in Catalonia as a mark of their constant devotion to their patron saint.

Montserrat Monastery is home to one of the most prestigious (and oldest) boys’ choirs in Europe. You can hear the Escolania de Montserrat perform in the basilica, usually twice a day at designated times. Recently, a second choir that includes slightly older young men and women has been established.

Art lovers will want to spend some time browsing the exhibits at the Museum of Montserrat. Paintings by masters like Picasso and Caravaggio, along with artifacts from Ancient Egypt and an impressive iconography collection make the museum well worth the time.

Stroll to Saint Michael’s Cross in Montserrat to take in the sensational views of the surrounding landscape. The easy walk takes only about 15 minutes each way, easy to do even on a limited-time visit to Montserrat.

Santa Cova de Montserrat is the holy cave where locals hid the original image of the Virgin when the Moors invaded. Although its location was forgotten, the image was miraculously found when a beam of light and the sound of singing led local shepherds to the cave.

Today Santa Cova is a popular Montserrat hike. Or you can visit via the Santa Cova funicular, which runs from the monastery to a spot near the cave.

Sant Jeroni is the highest point at Montserrat. If you are up for it, you can hike to the summit of Sant Jeroni for spectacular 360-degree views. If you don’t want to hike all the way, take the Sant Joan funicular part of the way up!

There are other hiking trails in Montserrat for visitors that want to enjoy the tranquil and beautiful surroundings. Snap photos of the rock formations and visit some of the ancient hermitages on the mountain.

The Stairway to Heaven at Montserrat is an impressive outdoor art installation. It consists of several concrete blocks stacked in a helical pattern and was created by Josep Maria Subirachs. The viewing area offers fabulous views of the surrounding landscape!

Planning a trip to the historic mountaintop abbey? Bookmark our Montserrat Monastery website for the complete rundown on visiting Montserrat!