In the heart of Catalonia is an unusual view of the Montserrat mountain range. Spain is rich in beautiful places with a distinctive culture and traditions, but this peak is special. Every year, hundreds of thousands of tourists and pilgrims visit it, throughout its history many great historical figures have visited it. Frozen huge idols, castles of wet sand, the teeth of a bloodthirsty monster - all this is Montserrat Mountain. Spain can hardly boast a more visited place than this.
The mountain itself attracts attention because its weathered and bare rocks are a great place for climbers to train. In 1987, Montserrat was granted the status of a national natural park with the aim of preserving the unique fauna and flora, the local landscape. The name of the peak from Spanish translates as “closed mountain”. Perhaps this is due to the unusual shape of the Montserrat ridge. Spain annually receives millions of tourists, and a significant part of them come to Catalonia. The mountain was known in pre-Christian times and was highly respected by local residents.
She received special status in 1025, when the abbot Oliba built a monastery here. Although before him, Catholic chapel temples dating from the 9th century were erected on mountain platforms. Oliba was a talented architect, he made a great contribution to the development of Catalan architecture, adding to it elements of the Lombard style. Since that time, the monastery was rebuilt several times, since it was destroyed during the wars, the last buildings were erected at the beginning of the twentieth century.
Today, there are three ways to climb the summit of Montserrat. Spain is a tourist country that cares about the comfort of foreign guests, therefore it has created all the conditions for a convenient ascent to the monastery. Believers rise and go down on foot, they apologize for their sins and beg for help from the patroness of Catalonia - the Black Madonna. You can also get to Montserrat by car: there is an excellent large and free parking at the foot. But the best way is by train and funicular. Having chosen it, the tourist will quickly get to the right place and will be able to view the surroundings from a bird's eye view.
What, in addition to the majestic beauty, so attracts tourists and just vacationers to Montserrat Mountain? Spain is a deeply believing Catholic country, so it is very kind to the icons, statues, frescoes or buildings. In 880, a statue of the Black Madonna and Child was discovered in one of the caves of the mentioned mountain . Then a chapel was built on this place, and the clergy moved the find to the temple, erected a little higher. No one can say how this happened, but the statue constantly returned to its original place, where it was finally left. It is this shrine that is the main subject of pilgrimage.
The Black Madonna helps to find a chosen one, create a strong family and learn the joy of motherhood, so many girls, women and young couples ascend to Montserrat. Spain (locals and guides will tell you how to get to the patroness of Catalonia) will not leave anyone indifferent, this country has a rich history, unique culture and traditions. A visit to
Montserrat Mountain, the monastery and a bow to the Black Madonna will definitely leave only positive memories.