Barcelona is a city of endless fun. The food, history, music, art and culture are a fiery fiesta for the senses, inadvertently sweeping you up into the city’s fast-paced and intense embrace. I’ve visited a few times now and on each and every trip, I fall in love with this enchanting city even more.
Although as much as I adore the all-consuming intensity of Barcelona, just like with any other metropolis, in order to preserve our relationship, I need to be able to escape from it – and fast.
When the city havoc (and not to mention my tapas and sangria-induced weight gain) have become too much, I have often found myself exploring beyond the cosmopolitan crowds to beaches, historic towns and the countryside. Of all the day trips I have managed to take from Barcelona, there is one that stands out in my mind by miles. It is one place I urge absolutely anyone staying in Barcelona to venture out to see – gorgeous Montserrat.
What Is Montserrat?
Montserrat is an unusual-looking peaked mountain range in Catalonia, just an hour north west of Barcelona. Shaped by thousands of years of wind, rain and frost, the gnarled limestone turrets extend up dramatically from the mountain base for as far as the eye can see. ‘Montserrat’ literally translates as ‘saw mountain’ in Catalan, owing to the mountain range’s serrated appearance.
Nestled within one of these mountains is a dramatic cliff-side monastery called Santa Maria, one of the most important religious sites in Spain.
Why Should You Visit Montserrat?
First and foremost you should visit Montserrat to get a good healthy dose of this unique Spanish countryside. You won’t find geological formations that look quite like this anywhere else in Spain, or indeed the world. Though there are many other reasons for a visit too:
The Hiking
The distinctive Montserrat peaks provide some of the most unique hiking and climbing opportunities in the whole of Spain. The bulbous sedimentary rock formations are even more fascinating close up than they look from afar; each corner you turn revealing a mesmerising new perspective on a surreal natural phenomenon.
Hiking here is really straightforward too thanks to the clearly signposted routes. The shortest track (from the Monastery to the Degotalls) takes 50 minutes and the longest (Sant Joan Funicular to Montserrat)Â about 2.5 hours. Be prepared for a lot of uphill though – the mountain peaks are pretty steep but the views along the way are stunning!
One of the most famous walks in Montserrat is to Santa Cova, an important and famous pilgrim site for the Catalan people. Here you will find the famous statue of the Virgin Mary whom religious visitors proclaim performs miracles. This being said, to miss the crowds at this popular site it is wise to avoid Sundays as well as religious and school holidays.
1 Comment