Thursday, October 30, 2008 The mountain Retreat of Montserrat By Albert Alvarez
ROUGHLY an hour away from Barcelona in Spain, an amazing mountain called Montserrat can be found.
“Montserrat” in Catalan literally means “jagged mountain”. It got its named from the mountain’s unique rock formation, which is visible from a great distance.
At the peaks, is the site of the Benedictine Abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, where the Black Virgin of Montserrat, called the La Moreneta, can be found. It is also, where many say, the location of the Holy Grail in Arthurian myth.
The monastery at Montserrat is located 1,200 miles atop a mountain and is 11 kilometers long and 5.5 kilometers wide. Many pilgrims travel here each year to see and touch the medieval statue of La Moreneta (The Black Virgin), the patron saint of Catalonia. It is said that numbers of newlyweds flock here as well for her blessing.
The history of Montserrat dates back to the year 880, when a small group of shepherd children saw a bright light coming down from the sky in Montserrat. They said they heard angels singing in the distance.
The children then told their parents and eventually a local vicar was brought to the miraculous site. They witnessed the same experiences as the children. These incidents occurred in the same location in a cave on Montserrat mountain. It is said that when the cave was explored by the elders, they found an image of the Virgin Mary. Since then, the cave has become a holy sanctuary for pilgrims.
At the monastery, try not to miss one of their most famous attractions, the Escolanía. It is one of the oldest and most renowned boys’ choirs in Europe, dating as far back as the 13th century. On scheduled performances, you can hear them singing Salve Regina and the Virolai (hymn of Montserrat) in the basilica.
Aside from the religious activities, Montserrat also offers a wide and varied range of leisure and nature activities. Therefore, it is advisable to maximize your visit with the different activities available according to your interests and time available.
If you have decided to only spend just a day at Montserrat, you could spend a few hours at the sanctuary, learning about its history, visit the museum, then choose one of the many walking trails along the mountain paths.
You can keep fit and healthy by making a hike to the summit of Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome), which is about 1,236 meters above sea-level. Be prepared for the long climb though. You can get there by hiking trails which go straight to the top entrance, to the Sant Joan funicular, the monastery, or the base of the mountain.
You can also make a journey to Santa Cova (Holy Grotto), the site where the Black Virgin was supposedly discovered. The grotto dates back to the 17th century and was built in the shape of a cross. You reach the area halfway by funicular, but then, you need to complete the rest of the trip on foot.
From the monastery, the Funicular de Sant Joan railway goes all the way to the top of the mountain. Just remember, the other funicular, the Funicular de Santa Cova, goes down to a shrine. For better views, I suggest going up first.
Another option of course, is to spend a few nights, to have a break and relax in this amazing mountain retreat.
A trip to Montserrat is a worthwhile visit, whether it is a few hours or a couple of days. So next time you are in the Catalonia area, make sure you make a trip to this amazing mountain retreat.
