Montserrat
Not to be confused with the little island Montserrat in the Caribbean Sea (which, incidentally was named after the Catalan monolith), Montserrat Mountain, translated as serrated mountain from Catalan 1,236 metres tall and is located 30 miles west of Barcelona, just south of Manresa. Monserrat has a long religious history. In the 11th century, Santa Maria de Montserrat was formed as a small chapel and over the next four centuries, grew in importance rapidly until it became an abbey in the 15th century.
For centuries this benedictine monestary has been the most important religious zone of Catalonia, with scores of people from Tarragona, Barcelona, Lleida and Girona making the trek there to watch the sun rise from the peaks of Montserrat. Next to the monestary the sanctuary of the Mare de Deu de Montserrat houses Catalonias favourite saint, the Black Virgin. During fascist Spain and Franco´s rule, the monestary underwent some changes and reforms, and it acted as a safehouse for artists, scholars, politicians and students with it being a known fact that Franco´s men continually waited down the road for “wanted” people. Monserrats highest peak, Sant Jeroni, is conveniently accessible by the system of hiking trails that run throughout the mountain range for walking enthusiasts.
Santa Maria monestary is as beautiful now as it was almost a thousand years ago, with its location in the Montserrat Mountain range being a perfect place for such an important Catalan monument. Presently, the monestary can be visited and easily reached by the world, and there is a museum, a gift shop, places to stay and restaurants.
monserrat is the most amazing place. i am not spanish but i climbed and watched the sun set over the peaks and it is really incredible
a mi me encanto montserrat, vivo cerca de manresa y la vista es increible.
hasta prontito
would love to vist montserrat
nice post
its beautiful here