Montserrat with Cog-Wheel Train & Black Madonna Priority Access
Description
Discover one of the most mystic Catalan wonders on this half-day tour. Take the cog-wheel train and enjoy a breathtaking ride up the mountain. Walk around the sanctuary and imagine the many lives lived by the monks at the site through the centuries. Visit the Black Madonna, popularly known as la Moreneta, and get a free gift.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Leave our office in Barcelona on an air-conditioned coach towards Montserrat cogwheel train station.
After a 1h drive on the highway, board the cogwheel train up the mountain and enjoy the amazing views over the area. Admire the Mountain’s peculiar morphology, which comes from the Catalan words Mont (mountain) and Serrat (serrated). World-famous for its rocky geography, Montserrat beautiful scenery was declared National Park in 1987 to protect its natural and cultural wealth.
Follow your local guide through the site and learn about the history and architectural style of the Monastery. A community of 80 monks currently lives and follow the rule of Saint Benedictin Montserrat. Fall in love with the Gothic and Renaissance details of the basilica and sanctuary.
Line up and learn about the legend of the miraculous apparition of the Black Madonna and Child in the cave of Santa Cova. To this day, their woodcarving is kept in the Church of the monastery, which you will be able to visit. The figure is popularly known as La Moreneta (The Black Madonna) as a result of a varnish reaction.
Besides the main area, there are a great number of small churches and trails you can follow. You will be given free time to taste the finest liquors, to visit the basilica and the Black Madonna and get a free gift, to shop for locally produced treats or to visit the audio-visual exhibition once our guided tour finishes. We would like to show you some activities that you can do during your free time. Please, bear in mind that your free time is limited so you will have to choose one of the activities. Montserrat Museum: wide variety of archeological artworks from medieval times to avant-garde style. Entrance fee not included on the tour. Hiking routes: although there are plenty of trails to follow, we recommend you to reach the cross of Sant Miquel (approximately 15 minutes from the monastery) as it offers one of the best views of the area.
Go back to Barcelona on an air-conditioned coach.
Highlights
What's included
Pickup Locations & Times
It is essential to inform the hotel or apartment booked, if possible, at the time of booking.
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Duration 08:00AM Tour: 5h30min approx. Duration 10:15Am Tour: 7h approx. (The duration of the tour includes transportation).
- Correct dress code is requested to enter the Basilica at Montserrat. It is not permitted to enter with tank tops, strapless shirts, short shorts or sandals.
- Please note that the tour is conducted on foot upon your arrival in Montserrat, come prepared and we recommend wearing comfortable clothes and shoes.
- The weather is mountainous. Depending on the season, you will need warm/rain clothing.
- Check the schedules of the facilities you wish to visit during your free time before your tour.
Reviews(3,522)
Amazing experience not to be missed. Our tour guide Laura was amazing. Attended to all our needs very informative. Spoke fluently in Spanish and English very helpful.
Great tour, make sure to take the fonocular (extra charge) to the top for even more breathtaking views. This tour was actually through Julua Travel. The guides, driver and bus were excellent however there are a lot of people on the tour and I found the meeting place run down and dirty.
I would have wished to stay longer, but our guide was amazing and helped us manage time to do almost everything I wanted.
The guide was awesome . The headsets were terrible. I had to hold it on the entire time. She shared good knowledge about the history. See the black Madonna was fabulous.
Jonathan was an amazing guide. Everything was on time and smooth. Loved the tour.
Great day trip, fantastic views, well organised and guide, Jonathan, was very helpful and shared lots of information.
Wonderful tour! It worked great for our family as it combined touring & free time, allowing us ample time to explore. The church is beautiful & touching the black Madonna was such a special experience. Our driver & guide, Roberto & Jon, were fantastic. The got us there smoothly & provided us with all the instructions needed for a memorable tour. I highly recommend this excursion.
Montserrat makes a wonderful day trip from Barcelona. The cog wheel train is quaint and fun, and the views are spectacular. The views from the monastery are also amazing. The cathedral is very beautiful, and seeing the Black Madonna was a special experience. The monastery museum wasn’t very good. I wish we’d skipped it and taken the funicular further up the mountain instead.
This was a fantastic experience. Everything described in the tour was correct. The tour guide Julie was very friendly and informative. The pace was very relaxed and the transportation to and from the venue was excellent.
Time may be broken up in to smaller pieces due to the ticket timing to view the black Madonna. Company should try to schedule this at the beginning or end of the tour to allow more time to go to other look out points.
