What’s In Montserrat That Draws 3 Million To Visit Yearly?
Endless scenic views on the walk to the grotto where the original Black Madonna was first found by the shepherds.
I came into my Montserrat visit not knowing 1 thing about the history, significance & importance it holds not only for the Catalan region but for the almost 3 million a year who choose to make the pilgrimage. All I knew going in was that my sister had it on her list to visit during our family trip to Spain. I took charge of arranging a light guide for our group of 10 to explore Barcelona for the first time, but I wasn’t sure if Montserrat was going to happen until 2 days before the day we did our day trip. Never in my mind did I think as I’m writing this back in New York 5 days later that a place like this would mean so much to me.
Looking up as the bells rang. A meditation all in it’s own.
2025 celebrates the 1000th year of Montserrat Abbey. The very place that houses the legendary Black Madonna. Legend says that a group of shepherds saw flashes of light in the grotto within the Montserrat mountains & found The Black Madonna sitting there. They tried to carry this statue, but after a certain amount of time, it got so heavy that they dropped it in place in front of what is now the Abbey. There is an actual circular marker that you can stand in which is the very spot the shepherds couldn’t carry The Black Madonna any further. It was then & there that they decided that she was meant to stay there. The Abbey was built to house this miraculous statue & the many years after brought on story after story emerging of miracles happening from those who prayed to her. 1000 years later & she is still attracting millions coming to her with prayers of fertility, health, abundance, & whatever comes to the heart.
The circular marker for the spot the shepherds couldn’t carry The Black Madonna any longer.
I had the privilege of being taken on a private tour by Catalan Trails founder Ramon to Montserrat. We got picked up at 8 AM from our Airbnb in L’Eixample. Ramon, a professional mountaineer, advised arriving super early to ensure we wouldn’t wait in long lines despite having tickets to pray to The Black Madonna. He was absolutely spot on. There were already people there by the time we arrived an hour later, but it was just the right time before massive amounts of tour buses & other people started to come in. Masses & prayers also occur at certain times which Ramon scheduled perfectly with the tour flow. Like clockwork, we were 2nd in line waiting to see The Black Madonna & have our personal moment to pray to her while touching the sphere on her hand.
The Black Madonna
It was an out-of-body experience. Each one of us holds so many different prayers as well as collective prayers. I cannot say exactly all that I prayed for because I was feeling so many different & powerful sensations walking up to my moment with The Black Madonna. The feeling was profound only to be topped by the hike to the original grotto where she was originally found by the shepherds. I had even more of an out-of-body experience praying in the silent chapel built around the original grotto of her origins. The entire thing was something I will never forget.
The chapel built around the original grotto where she was found.
There are so many facets to visiting a place like Montserrat. I don’t believe that you have to be spiritual or religious to get anything from this experience. The land itself takes your breath away the moment you step foot outside & feel just how small you are amongst the giants guarding the very peaks in front of & around you. According to our guide, it is a very popular local spot for day trips & hiking since it is so close to Barcelona. I truly enjoyed riding the funicular cable railway that took us down the slope where we hiked towards the grotto. The views on that walk were surreal. I can’t even imagine the views from all of the other trails which lead you to the highest peaks overlooking all of Montserrat.
The funicular cable railway where we spotted a mountain goat on the way up & down the slope just casually walking & grazing on the side of the steep mountain.
I am still unpacking all that I saw, experienced, & learned about this magnificent place. Usually after any trip, I find myself just trying to recover & sleep, but this time I found myself extraordinarily wanting to know all I can about this place. I’ve carried home souvenirs with me, but the most significant souvenir from Montserrat is the belief & hope that all of the wishes I’ve made will have been heard & amplified by a source so profound that it brought me as well as millions to my knees, in tears, emotional, & overwhelmed with the most peaceful sense of gratitude.
Serenity & stillness. You can see people taking their moment with The Black Madonna up above. Imagine all the prayers she holds & all the prayers in this space.
