Montserrat
Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain
A saw-toothed mountain of pink conglomerate with a Benedictine monastery and its Black Madonna. Arrive early, or leave the car below and take the rack railway or cable car; paths lead higher to the hermitages.
The Montserrat massif lies about 50 km north-west of Barcelona and consists of pink conglomerate, a sedimentary rock; its highest peak is Sant Jeroni at 1,236 m. At about 720 m stands the Benedictine abbey of Santa Maria de Montserrat, founded in 1025. The basilica venerates the “Moreneta”, the dark statue of the Virgin that was proclaimed patron of Catalonia in 1881.
By car, the BP-1121 climbs from Monistrol de Montserrat, and there is a pay car park at the top. Alternatively, the rack railway takes about 15 minutes from Monistrol to the monastery, and the Aeri cable car about five minutes from its station on the Barcelona–Manresa rail line. Funiculars link the monastery with Santa Cova and with Sant Joan; the climb from the monastery to Sant Jeroni takes just under three hours. Plan on a full day and arrive early in the morning if you can.
- Nearest town
- Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain
- Category
- Nature & parks
- GPS
- 41.5933, 1.8373
- Editor's pick
- ★
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Getting there
- Spain: Tolls on some roads, bridges or tunnels. Many former toll motorways are now free; some AP roads still charge. Motorway limit for cars: 120 km/h.
Sources
Featured in these trip guides
Nearby
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Campsites nearby
- Area esportiva i d'acampada MontserratCampsite0 km from MontserratTentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToilets
- Àrea d'autocaravanes de NavarclesMotorhome stopover19 km from Montserrat · 8 pitchesMotorhomesElectricityWaste disposalFree
- ExpocaravanMotorhome stopover19 km from Montserrat · 200 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposal
- Sant Pere de RiudebitllesMotorhome stopover20 km from Montserrat · 4 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- Àrea d'autocaravanes de Sant Quintí de MedionaMotorhome stopover21 km from Montserrat · 4 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
- El Pla del PenedèsMotorhome stopover22 km from Montserrat · 5 pitchesMotorhomesDrinking waterWaste disposalFree
All campsites in Spain · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Montserrat?
Montserrat is in Monistrol de Montserrat, Spain, at GPS 41.5933, 1.8373. It is about 36 km from Barcelona.
Can you camp near Montserrat?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Area esportiva i d'acampada Montserrat, about 0 km away; within 25 km there are 19 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
Which road trips pass Montserrat?
Montserrat is a stop on these CampingSpirit trip guides: Inland Catalonia: Montserrat to the Garrotxa volcanoes and Basalt cliffs, a salt mountain and slate slopes: by motorhome through inland Catalonia from Vic to the Priorat.
What is there to see near Montserrat?
Places worth a stop nearby: Sagrada Família (35 km), Cardona Salt Mountain (39 km), Poblet Monastery (67 km) and Tarraco amphitheatre (72 km).
When is the best time to visit Montserrat?
The most pleasant months are usually May–June and August–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April, July and November. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)