Montserrat Day Tours with Wine Country Tastings

World class art and architecture, amazing rock fomations and views and exceptional food and wine!

Our Spanish Trails® Montserrat Day Tours and Montserrat and Wine Country Day Tours are personable, 8-9 hour experiences for families and travelers of all ages in which you are guided from Barcelona to the impressive Monastery of Montserrat located 45 minutes west of Barcelona and standing at an impressive 725 mts. /2378 ft. above sea level. You'll enjoy the great views of the Mediterranean coast and western valleys below amidst the astounding, unique rock formations of this holy place that has been the destination for independent travelers and countless numbers of pilgrims over the last thousand years. Also on the menu of the day’s events are listening to the Escolania boy's choir sing, visiting the “Moreneta” or black virgin of Montserrat, enjoy a full restaurant lunch of traditional Catalan food and taste great wines and cavas in an exclusive boutique winery. The funicular ride and walk to Santa Cova (the Holy Grotto) along the modernist sculptures of the stations of the cross is also included in the day and is strongly recommended for those who don't mind a bit of walking.

1000 years of legend and history

Legend has it that in the year 880 shepards claimed to have spotted the image of the black madonna in a cave on Montserrat. The original carving was discovered and removed by local religious figures and the first church and then monastery were established. By the 12th century news spread far and wide of the miracles of Montserrat and the monastic community settled which prompted pilgrims from far and wide to flock to the sacred mountain. The monastery of the Virgin was founded in 1025, reconstructed various times, destroyed by Napoleon in 1811 and rebuilt to what it is today in 1858 with major contributions by the Catalan Modernist masters in the late 19th/early 20th century. The Benedictine Abbey is still tended today by 80 Benedictine monks and still houses the Escalonia music school and boy's choir. We encourage guests to ride the Santa Cova funicular and enjoy the walk (low-medium difficulty) along the modernist sculptures of the stations of the cross to Santa Cova, where the Moreneta was discovered. From the path to Santa Cova we have the best views of the monastery and basilica and the amazing rock spires towering at 1236 meters/4055 feet, which many attribute to being the inspiration to Gaudí's Sagrada Familia.

The pride and heritage of the Catalan region

Montserrat Tours and Montserrat and Wine Country day trips are groups of only two to eight guests/day and are guided by one of our fun, informative guides who give you a great, detailled explanation of the history of Montserrat, with guided tour of the Basilica, as well as the history of the Catalunya region. Like all Spanish Trails® day trips, your day is rounded off with a great lunch of great Catalan cuisine in a traditional restaurant and followed by a private, generous wine tasting of 3-4 wines in a boutique vineyard cellar. This Montserrat day tour is not your typical coach or mini-coach tour and is catered to both young and old, hikers and non-hikers as well as those with or without specific religious interest. It is just a good day out, really!

Includes:

• Free Transport
• Knowledgeable, English speaking guide
• Funicular to Santa Cova
• Fantastic lunch in a traditional Catalan restaurant
• Private winery visit and tasting of 3-4 products

Duration:

• 8-9 hours

Price:

• 95€ per person

Availability:

• Year round

(Min. 2 persons / Max. 8 persons per excursion)