Montserrat - Andrey Pudov

Montserrat seen from Monistrol de Montserrat

Montserrat - Montserrat is one of the greatest symbols of Catalonia, that from being a religious centre has become a bastion of Catalan identity, without ignoring the natural environment and its characteristic morphology and structure of rounded and abrupt rocks and needles.

Montserrat is one of the greatest symbols of Catalonia, that from being a religious centre has become a bastion of Catalan identity, without ignoring the natural environment and its characteristic morphology and structure of rounded and abrupt rocks and needles.

Pont Gòtic The bridge over the Llobregat river dates from the fourteenth century

Montserrat - Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey

An abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict it is notable for enshrining the image of the Virgin of Montserrat. The monastery was founded in the 11th century and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries, and still functions to this day, with over 70 monks. There have always been roughly 80 monks in residence.

Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey An abbey of the Order of Saint Benedict it is notable for enshrining the image of the Virgin of Montserrat. The monastery was founded in the 11th century and rebuilt between the 19th and 20th centuries, and still functions to this day, with over 70 monks. There have always been roughly 80 monks in residence.

New facade, work of Francesc Folguera

Monestir de Montserrat and Roca de St. Jaume

Montserrat - The massif, some 10 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide, reaches the limits of the regions of Bages, Baix Llobregat and Anoia, and the Natural Park occupies 3,630 hectares of the municipalities of Bruc (Anoia), Marganell and Monistrol de Montserrat (Bages) and Collbató (Baix Llobregat), with almost 2,000 of these hectares as a nature reserve. An additional area of 4,039 hectares is catalogued as a protected zone, with part of the municipalities of Castellbell and El Vilar (Bages), Esparreguera (Baix Llobregat) and Vacarisses (Vallès Occidental).

The massif, some 10 kilometres long and 5 kilometres wide, reaches the limits of the regions of Bages, Baix Llobregat and Anoia, and the Natural Park occupies 3,630 hectares of the municipalities of Bruc (Anoia), Marganell and Monistrol de Montserrat (Bages) and Collbató (Baix Llobregat), with almost 2,000 of these hectares as a nature reserve. An additional area of 4,039 hectares is catalogued as a protected zone, with part of the municipalities of Castellbell and El Vilar (Bages), Esparreguera (Baix Llobregat) and Vacarisses (Vallès Occidental).

Montserrat - The highest summit of Montserrat is called Sant Jeroni and stands at 1,236 meters above sea-level. It is accessible by hiking trails which connect from the top entrance to the Sant Joan funicular, the monastery, or the base of the mountain.

The highest summit of Montserrat is called Sant Jeroni and stands at 1,236 meters above sea-level. It is accessible by hiking trails which connect from the top entrance to the Sant Joan funicular, the monastery, or the base of the mountain.

Panorama of the view from the Sant Jeroni summit of Montserrat

Montserrat - Montserrat does not have a particularly rich fauna due to the human presence, which has led to the disappearance of the larger species, accelerated by the fire of 1986. The animal population on Montserrat is typically Mediterranean, with mammals such as wild boar, squirrels, beech marten, common genet, Spanish ibex (which were introduced in 1995), various species of reptile, numerous rock-dwelling birds (such as the swift, crag martin or the warbler) and forest-dwelling birds (thrush, firecrest, pigeons and Orphean warbler).

Montserrat does not have a particularly rich fauna due to the human presence, which has led to the disappearance of the larger species, accelerated by the fire of 1986. The animal population on Montserrat is typically Mediterranean, with mammals such as wild boar, squirrels, beech marten, common genet, Spanish ibex (which were introduced in 1995), various species of reptile, numerous rock-dwelling birds (such as the swift, crag martin or the warbler) and forest-dwelling birds (thrush, firecrest, pigeons and Orphean warbler).

Rock Formations on Montserrat Mountain

MontserratSunday, May 7, 2023