Has anyone been to Montserrat? I was trying to plan my time in Barcelona and have read quite a bit about this. Is this a day long trip or can it be done in a half day? I can't wait to hear the boys choir sing. If anyone can give me some feedback that would be great.

It was lovely. I did have to giggle though when I was there. so many tourists. I felt like a sheep being herded in to the train and up the hill, back down again. Baaa.

I would plan on most of one day for that, with all the travel time and stuff. Maybe use that day to do some shopping in the afternoon and a great dinner somewhere,so you get a full day.

I don't know if it still runs, but some years ago there was a cable car that took visitors to the top of the mountain. Normally, heights don't bother me. However, in those days I knew just enough Spanish to be able to read the sign on the wall of the car saying that it should not be occupied by more than 12 persons. I counted 18. I thought that very Spanish, with the traditional indifference to fate. Obviously, I made it there and back.
Cantabene

[This message has been edited by cantabene (edited 01-20-2001).]

I went to Montserrat on a one day bus trip with my students in April 1998. It was a beautiful surprise for me to see this wonderful place! We climbed a long staircase to go above the altar to see the black Virgin Mary. Then, we sat in the church with many other people. The boys choir was not singing, but the music was still beautiful. Everyone in our group had time to roam the monastery grounds as they pleased. There was so much to see. The view from the mountain top was spectacular.

A few of the kids took the cable car ride. One girl said she cried because it was the most beautiful moment in her life. The other kids took a picture of her crying. I was happy that my own son was with that group.

We were the tourist group being hurded in as someone above describes. Believe me when I say it felt wonderful to be in the shoes of the group leader and seeing something so new and breathtaking.

It was our last full day in Spain before returning home to the US. Our tour agent arranged it well.

Coming down the mountain, the tour escort played the boys choir music tape. WOW. What a memory (and it is all recorded on video tape : )

My ladyfriend and I went to Montserrat on our way back to Madrid from Barcelona during Semana Santa 1999 (read all about it on my MadridMan's Spain 1999 Trip , journal entry 3/30/99). WOW! ALL that has been said above is true. There's nothing but flat land and then BOOM(!), up come these tall, flat-ish spikes out of the ground! We were driving and drove to the top on a gloriously sunny day, parked, then walked the last 300 meters to the monastary itself. What a place! I was a little sad to learn that the monks hadn't actively inhabited the place for a few years, but we still enjoyed the history of it all, also climbed the staircase with a file of about 200 others to see the black virgin mary and baby totally conceiled in clear plexiglass and only the outermost curve of the ball stuck through a small cutout of the plexiglass for one to touch.

The drive to/from Barcelona is especially nice too! The closer you get to Madrid the more old/ruined castles there are! I think I counted something amazing like 18 castles/fortified structures.

Saludos, MadridMan

what a beautiful country....Monsterrat is awesome, along with the rest of Spain.
Sometimes I am in total "ah"...and cannot fully comprehend the feelings i feel...undescribable.

To go to Montserrat plan on a whole day. Take the R5 train from Plaça Espanya (FGC). Buy a combination ticket (Tren-Aeri) which lets you ride the cable car and funiculars too.

There is a museum of interest at the monastery, the choir is very good, and numerous trails to walk, with very nice views of the surrounding countryside.

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Laurence Sigler Asterault
http://www.fly.net/~lsigler/
lsigler_1@yahoo.com

Is there a way to get up to the monastery without taking the cable car, I have a friend who is really afraid of heights?

[This message has been edited by Amy25 (edited 01-23-2001).]

Amy25, read my posting above. We drove to the top. And if your friend is afraid of heights, she'll/he'll be afraid with the DEEP valley view from WAAAAY up there anyway.

Saludos, MadridMan

Yeah, don't take that cable car if you have vertigo. It doubles as a weed cutter for the side of the mountain.