Cable car ride from base of Montserrat to Montserrat
Gorgeous views along the hike
The strange rock formations
We decided to do a Montserrat hike on our own, instead of paying for a guided tour.
So that meant:
1.buying the correct train ticket with the corresponding cable car ticket
2. boarding the train at the correct time. (Or else risked an hour wait for the next train)
3. deciding on the routes to do and not getting lost.
We managed all of the above at a quarter of the cost of a guided tour.
It was not difficult after all. There were so many tourists waiting to board at train at Placa d’ Espanya. The train took us only to the foot of Montserrat, after which we took the 5-minute cable car ride (standing room only) to Montserrat. There was also the 15-minute rack railway cremallera funicular option with seats available, just be sure to alight at the correct train station for either option! (This was a very helpful site.)
Apart from visiting the monastery, there were funicular rides you could take to different heights of Montserrat. We took the Sant Joan funicular to start a 7.5km long hike to the highest peak, Sant Jeroni and back down to the monastery. The hike was straightforward with very well-defined paths. Of course there were some ambiguous parts, where direction signs (be clear with the route taken) were erected and some common sense (such as taking the paths with railing or steps) would be useful!
This is our very first unguided hike and feeling encouraged by it, we are definitely looking forward to doing more hikes on our own in Alpes d’Huez!
Highest peak at Sant Jeroni
Packed lunch and lesson at Sant Jeroni: “Catalunya is not Spain.”
More gorgeous views on way down
Journey back to the monastery. A pile of logs intentionally directing the path!
run.eat.write 