With so much to do and to visit in Barcelona, few people think to leave the city and explore elsewhere, but just a short train ride can take you right out into the countryside and into the heart of provincial Catalonia. A popular and easily accessible day trip is to Montserrat the “saw-toothed mountain”, located 60km away from Barcelona. Now a national park and popular spot for outdoor activities, the mountain possesses a significant history and remains a sacred spot for Catalonians. Not only is Montserrat a place of religious importance and pilgrimage but it also became the symbol for Catalonian opposition during the Franco regime.
As well as the attractions of the Benedictine Monastery containing the Virgin of Montserrat and a 16th century basilica contained within the monastery, Monserrat offers breathtaking views over Barcelona and the surrounding area. What’s more the monastery is free to enter.
From your barcelona hotel in the centre of Barcelona, catch the hourly R5 or S4 train from Plaça de Espanya in the direction of Manresa which takes an hour to arrive at Montserrat. I recommend that for 13 euros you buy a combined return ticket which includes the cable car at Montserrat and saves the hassle when you arrive.
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