Imagine a multi peaked mountain range, where jagged pinnacles of sandstone and conglomerate reach towards the sky. Lying just Northwest of Barcelona at 4055 ft above the valley floor, Montserrat is the highest point of the Catalan lowlands and is central to the most populated part of Catalonia.But its significance is so much more. And that is why we chose to take a Montserrat day trip from Barcelona.
Visitors and pilgrims from around the world come here for healing, prayer, a possible miracle and to see the ancient wooden statue of the Black Madonna. She sits overlooking the altar in the basilica next to a small Benedictine monastery perched on a plateau’s edge.
My husband and I, along with other tourists from as faraway as Canada and Dubai, spent an afternoon visiting this enchanting place.
So join me on my Montserrat day trip from Barcelona.
But to fully understand the religious and historical significance of this place, let’s first explore…
THE STORY OF THE BLACK MADONNA
It all began in the eighth century. As the story goes, one day a bright light shone from a cave, convincing Christian hermits that lived in the area that this was a spiritual sign.
But they were terrified. Then, a figure said to be Mary appeared and told them to go into the grotto. And it was there the fully carved statue of the Black Madonna was discovered. It is believed that the statue had been hidden in the grotto in 718 to avoid its falling into the hands of Moorish invaders.
After being contacted, Church authorities ordered that the statue be taken to Barcelona. But the bearers could not transport it. With each step they took, the heavier the statue became. The men soon realized that it should remain where it was found, on the mountain.
Of course, stories of this magical statue spread across Spain. And the rest is religious history. In 1810, the Black Madonna was consecrated by the Bishop of Barcelona. And a year later, Pope Leo XIII granted papal authorization. On the 125th anniversary of her official consecration, she was named the “mother of consolation and hope.” Perfect title!
Now, many ask why she is black. Although made of honey oak, the change in color is most likely from the smoke from candles and fires over the centuries. The varnish changed color as it aged as well.
To view the Black Madonna, visitors must enter..
THE BASILICA
She is located in the back of the basilica overlooking the altar. People wait in a long line to get the opportunity to see her up close. Of course, we didn’t come this far to not do the same. And let me tell you, she is most definitely worth the wait!
The basilica itself is quite beautiful and its history is a long one, filled with hope, faith and resiliency.
In 1592 the basilica itself was consecrated. And over the centuries, reconstruction was needed after several structures were damaged by the troops during the Napoleonic Wars in Spain. Then in 1836, the monks were expelled by the Spanish government following its anticlerical dictates. Eventually, the monastery fell into ruins.
But in 1881, the monks returned and rebuilt the shrine. Over time, the regions of Catalonia and Montserrat became closely intertwined. And today, the Catalonians honor the shrine as a symbol of pride in their land. Here, one can find a huge collection of old Bibles as well as books on history, geography and natural history that are stored and maintained here.
The basilica is, of course, a sacred place. It is not just popular because of the Black Madonna but for its masses and to listen to the choral concerts by…
THE MONTSERRAT BOY’S CHOIR
In honor of the Black Madonna, about 50 choirboys who reside at the boarding school of the monastery church sing songs daily. And their voices are truly angelic. They are called “Escolania.” They are one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe, dating back to the 14th century.
Performances can be heard free of charge in the Basilica daily with the exception of Christmas holidays, July and some other festive periods during the year. If you’re lucky enough, you can hear these angels sing at 13:00 daily. Luckily, our visit afforded us this amazing opportunity!
And did you know that these young men are also recording stars? The Monastery choir boys have now recorded over 100 albums of choral music. Amazing!
Now let’s learn about…
THE MONASTERY
Founded in the 11th century and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries, today the structure still functions as a monastery.
The Atrium of the Basilica is the open-roofed courtyard area that sits directly in front of the Basilica. Five arches lead you to the main area. If you see the iron sculpture of St Benedict, this is the entrance to the part of the monastery where the monks live . Visitors are not allowed to enter. Approximately 80 monks are always in residence.
Interested in a fun fact about the monastery? Restoration efforts that started in the mid 19th century and continued for another century included the talents of many, including none other than Antoni Gaudi!
FEET OR FUNICULAR?
Exploring this enchanting place can be accomplished either by foot or via funicular.
The funicular runs along one side of the site and takes visitors about halfway to the grotto, where the Black Madonna was found. The rest of the way, however, has to be done on foot. And if you’re a hiker, our guide told us that there are walks through the mountains where you will experience magnificent views of some of the most unusual rock formations in the whole of Catalonia. Unfortunately, our time was limited here so hiking is on our list for our next visit here.
The Funicular 
A beautiful view from Montserrat
A FARM LUNCH & GOODBYE
After visiting beautiful Montserrat, our tour group was hungry. Our bus tour took us to a local farm for a delicious lunch. What an end to a perfect day!
No need to be religious or spiritual to appreciate Montserrat. Whatever your reason, Montserrat will take your breath away.
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To read about other places of religious and spiritual significance that I’ve visited in my travels, click here:https://followmyyellowbrickroad.com/?page_id=2207