Montserrat Visit Report: A Day to Remember

Montserrat: A Day to Remember
by James Portelli

IMG_0245

Introduction

The Camino Aragones is arguably the longest Camino on Spanish soil, starting either in Barcelona or in Montserrat and continuing for over 1,000 km to Santiago Compostela.

We are starting the Camino Inglés soon but decided to experience a taste of Catalunya and visit Montserrat first. Montserrat is another renowned pilgrimage site and, being 45 km from Barcelona, can be combined with Manreza for a 4 or 5 day Camino with a day of rest in these two picturesque places.

How To Get There

We decided to travel by train from Plaza de España in Barcelona. There are various ticket options from train only to a full day all-inclusive ticket that covers the train, cable car, and funicular, as well as entry to the museum and Basilica. Even with the all-inclusive option there is still a fair amount of hiking that can be undertaken on Montserrat and, therefore, trekking gear and a walking stick is recommended for those who wish to explore beyond the hermitage to experience a panoramic view of Catalunya. The prices for the ticket options vary between 22 and 46 euros. We went for the all-inclusive ticket in order to avoid queuing at the various places of interest on Montserrat. If traveling by train, do not take one later than 9:00 a.m., since Montserrat does require a full day to experience.