Logbook · 5 places

What to see and do in Monistrol de Montserrat

What to see and do in Monistrol de Montserrat (Bages, Barcelona): 5 places across monuments, nature, activities and curiosities, with a photo and a Google Maps location.

1 Villages · 2 Monuments · 1 Nature · 1 Food and drink

How far each place is from the centre of Monistrol de Montserrat

Towns near Monistrol de Montserrat

What to see in Castellbell i el Vilar 3.3 km · 2 places
What to see in Collbató 4.4 km · 3 places
What to see in Marganell 5.5 km · 1 place
What to see in el Bruc 5.9 km · 6 places
What to see in Vacarisses 6.3 km · 4 places
What to see in Sant Vicenç de Castellet 6.5 km · 3 places
What to see in Rellinars 6.5 km · 1 place
What to see in Castellgalí 7.1 km · 2 places

Spain › Catalonia › Barcelona › Bages › Monistrol de Montserrat

What to see and do in Monistrol de Montserrat

Monistrol de Montserrat
Village
Monistrol de Montserrat is a town in the Bages, in the province of Barcelona, situated at the foot of, and forming part of, the mountain of Montserrat, which serves as the gateway to the monastery and the natural park. The river Llobregat runs through it, dividing it between the original settlement, on the right bank, and the more recent urban developments. From here depart the Cremallera de Montserrat, which climbs up the mountain, and the Aeri de Montserrat cable car. The earliest records of the place date back to a donation in the year 888 to the monastery of Ripoll, and the name Monistrol appears documented in 942; the present-day town took shape in the 14th century around the bridge and the priory palace, under the lordship of Jaume de Vivers.
Bridge over the Llobregat
Monument
The Pont sobre el Llobregat, or pont de Monistrol, is a Gothic work declared a Bien Cultural de Interés Nacional (Catalonia's highest level of heritage protection) that crosses the river Llobregat to give access to Monistrol de Montserrat (Bages). Construction began in 1317 under the priorate of Bernat Escarrer (1300-1322), in order to ease pilgrimages to the sanctuary of Montserrat, and was completed under Jaume de Vivers (1348-1375). It is a flattened bridge formed by four semicircular arches, one of them walled up, resting on piers with cutwaters; the central arch, with a 37-metre span, is the largest in Catalonia, with a rise of 25 metres. Widened to allow vehicle traffic, its central arches were rebuilt after suffering damage during the Civil War.
La Bestorre
Monument
La Bestorre, or tower of Monistrol, is a circular watchtower situated on the hill of the same name, in Monistrol de Montserrat; it is reached by a path leading off the road that climbs to the monastery of Montserrat, shortly before kilometre 5. It probably served to protect the parish district and, from the late 12th century, the old medieval bridge over the Llobregat, on the site of the present one; however, an archaeological survey in 2002 cast doubt on this medieval dating. During the War of the Spanish Succession, the abbot of Montserrat, Manuel Marrón, had it blown up for fear of the supporters of Archduke Charles. A fragment of wall about 3.90 metres high survives, of well-cut ashlar, with an interior diameter of 4.80 metres.
Natural Park of the Mountain of Montserrat
Nature
The Montserrat Natural Park protects part of the mountain of Montserrat, between the comarcas of Anoia, Bages, Vallès Occidental and Baix Llobregat, with the municipality of Monistrol de Montserrat located at the foot of the mountain itself. It is managed by the Board of the Mountain of Montserrat, created in 1950 because of the religious and cultural importance of the monastery and the sanctuary and the uniqueness of the landscape, and made up of the Generalitat, the town councils of El Bruc, Collbató, Monistrol and Marganell, the comarcal councils of Anoia, Bages and Baix Llobregat, the Catalan provincial councils and the monastery of Santa María de Montserrat. It became a natural park by decree in 1987; it covers 3,630 hectares, of which 1,981 are natural reserve, plus a further protection zone of 4,039 hectares.
Aromes de Montserrat
Food and drink
Herbal liqueur linked to the sanctuary of Montserrat, made with aromatic plants of the mountain macerated in alcohol. It is sold within the enclosure itself alongside other products of the abbey, such as honey, cheese and altar wine.