Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey facts for kids
| Monestir de Montserrat | |
Abbey of Montserrat
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 Location in Catalonia
Location in Spain
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| Monastery information | |
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| Order | Benedictine |
| Established | 1025 |
| Dedicated to | Virgin of Montserrat |
| Diocese | Sant Feliu de Llobregat |
| Architecture | |
| Heritage designation | Bien de Interés Cultural |
| Site | |
| Location | Montserrat, Monistrol de Montserrat, Catalonia, Spain |
| Coordinates | 41°35′35.54″N 1°50′13.70″E / 41.5932056°N 1.8371389°E |
The Santa Maria de Montserrat Abbey (also called Monestir de Montserrat) is a famous abbey in Spain. It belongs to the Benedictine monks. You can find it on the Montserrat mountain in Monistrol de Montserrat, Catalonia.
This abbey is special because it holds a famous statue of the Virgin of Montserrat. The monastery was first built in 1025. It was later rebuilt in the 1800s and 1900s. Today, about 70 monks live and work there.
Contents
Getting to Montserrat Abbey
The monastery is about 48 kilometers (30 miles) northwest of Barcelona. You can get there in a few ways. You can drive, take a train, or ride a cable car.
The abbey has its own train station. It is part of a special rack railway that connects to Monistrol. There are also two funiculars. One goes to Santa Cova, a shrine lower on the mountain. The other goes up to the higher parts of the mountain.
Montserrat mountain is 1,236 meters (4,055 feet) above the valley. It is the highest point in the lowlands of Catalonia. The highest peak, Sant Jeroni, can be reached by walking paths from the monastery. From Sant Jeroni, you can see almost all of Catalonia. On a clear day, you might even see the island of Mallorca!
What Makes Montserrat Special
The name Montserrat means 'serrated mountain'. This mountain and its abbey are very important to the culture and spirit of Catalonia. It is a key religious place. Many young people from Barcelona and other parts of Catalonia hike here. They often stay overnight to watch the sunrise from the mountain peaks.
The Virgin of Montserrat is the patron saint of Catalonia. Her statue is in the sanctuary of the Mare de Déu de Montserrat. This sanctuary is right next to the Benedictine monastery. It fits perfectly among the mountain's towers and rocky cliffs.
Around 80 monks usually live at the abbey. The Escolania, which is Montserrat's Boys’ Choir, is one of the oldest in Europe. They sing during church services and prayers in the basilica.
The basilica also has a museum. It displays artworks by many famous painters. The abbey also has a publishing house. It is called Publicacions de l'Abadia de Montserrat. It is one of the oldest printing presses still working in the world. Its first book was printed in 1499.
Inside the Basilica
Building the main church, or basilica, at Montserrat started in the 1500s. It was completely rebuilt starting in 1811. This was after it was damaged during the Peninsular War.
In 1881, Pope Leo XIII gave it the special title of minor basilica. The front of the church was finished in 1901. It was designed by Francisco de Paula del Villar y Carmona. It has a special style called Plateresque Revival. It also features sculptures by Venanci and Agapit Vallmitjana i Barbany.
After the Spanish Civil War, a new front for the church was built. This happened between 1942 and 1968. Francesc Folguera i Grassi designed it. It has sculptures by Joan Rebull. These sculptures show St. Benedict, the Proclamation of the Assumption of Mary, and St. George. They also honor the monks who died during the Spanish Civil War.
Before you enter the church, you walk through an atrium. Here you can see tombs from the 1500s. There are also sculptures by Josep Clarà and Domènec Fita i Molat. Paintings by Francesc Fornells-Pla show visits by kings and queens. The square outside the church has special drawings on its walls. These drawings show the history of Montserrat.
The church has one long main area, called a nave. It is 68.32 meters (224 feet) long. It is supported by large wooden columns. These columns were carved by Josep Llimona i Bruguera. They show important figures like Isaiah and Daniel.
At the front is the main altar. It is decorated with colorful enamels from 1928. These show scenes from the Bible, like The Last Supper. A cross from the 1400s by Lorenzo Ghiberti is also on the altar.
Above the main altar is the room of the Virgin. You enter through a beautiful alabaster door. This door shows different Bible stories. The walls have mosaics of saints. Then you reach the Throne Room. It has paintings by Josep Obiols and Carlo Maratta. The Virgin's Throne is made of silver. It has carvings that show the Nativity and the Visitation.
The Sala del Cambril is a round chapel. It was built between 1876 and 1884. A young Antoni Gaudí helped design it. The ceiling has paintings by Joan Llimona. The windows are by Antoni Rigalt i Blanch. When you leave this room, you can offer candles. Here you will see a statue of the Angel of the Annunciation.
Around the main nave, there are several smaller chapels. On the right side, you can find chapels dedicated to Saint Peter, Ignatius of Loyola, St. Martin, Joseph Calasanz, and St. Benedict. On the left side, there are chapels for Santa Escolàstica, the Santíssim, the Holy Family, Santo Cristo, and the Immaculada Concepció. Each chapel has its own unique art and sculptures.
The basilica was repaired between 1991 and 1995. In 2015, artist Sean Scully redesigned the Santa Cecilia Chapel next to the abbey.
The Pipe Organ
The main pipe organ in the church was built in 1896. It was moved in 1957. This old organ is now very worn out.
A brand new pipe organ was opened in 2010. It looks like traditional Catalan pipe organs. These organs are usually placed on the side of the church. This new organ is a great example of Catalan musical art. It helps Montserrat be known for its music around the world. Albert Blancafort designed it. It was built by Blancafort, orgueners de Montserrat. Many people helped pay for it. The organ's position on the side of the nave means its sound fills the whole church beautifully.
The Cloister
The cloister is a peaceful courtyard in the monastery. Josep Puig i Cadafalch designed it in 1929. It has two levels with stone columns. The lower level opens to a garden. There is a fountain in the middle of the garden.
On the cloister walls, you can see very old pieces. Some of them are from the 900s. The large garden also has a Romanesque chapel. It is called the Chapel of Sant Iscle and Santa Victòria. You can also find sculptures here. One is a marble statue of the "Good Shepherd" by Manolo Hugué.
The Refectory
The refectory is the dining hall for the monks. It was built in the 1600s. Josep Puig i Cadafalch rebuilt it in 1925. In the center of the refectory, there is a mosaic of Christ. On the opposite wall, you can see a three-part painting. It shows scenes from the life of St. Benedict.
The Museum
The monastery has an important museum. It is divided into three main parts:
- Modern Art: This section shows paintings by artists from Catalonia. These include Santiago Rusiñol, Salvador Dalí, and Joan Miró. You can also see works by artists from other places, like Pablo Picasso. There are also paintings by French impressionism artists, such as Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Claude Monet.
- Ancient History: This part has objects from ancient lands. You can see items from Egypt, Cyprus, Mesopotamia, and the Holy Land.
- Old Paintings: This section features works by famous old masters. These include El Greco, Caravaggio (with his important St. Jerome), and Luca Giordano.
The museum also has collections of Montserrat art and religious gold items.
History of Montserrat Abbey
Legend says that the statue of the Virgin of Montserrat was found around the year 880. This led to people starting to worship the "Moreneta" (Black Madonna). Four small chapels were built in the 800s.
The exact start of the monastery is not fully known. We know that around 1011, a monk from the monastery of Santa Maria de Ripoll came to Montserrat. He took charge of the Santa Cecília de Montserrat monastery. This put it under the control of Abbot Oliba of Ripoll. But Santa Cecília did not like this new arrangement. So, Abbot Oliba decided to start a new monastery. He built it in 1025 where an old chapel of Santa Maria already stood.
By 1082, Santa Maria had its own abbot. It no longer depended on the Ripoll abbey. This new monastery became the most important on the mountain. This was because of the Virgin statue that people had worshipped there since 880.
In 1811 and 1812, during Napoleon's invasion of Spain, the abbey was attacked and robbed twice. Many valuable items were lost. In 1835, the abbey was closed. It was reopened after being restored in 1844.
In 1880, Montserrat celebrated 1,000 years of its history. On September 11, 1881, Pope Leo XIII declared the Virgin of Montserrat the patron saint of Catalonia. This happened on Catalonia's national day.
Montserrat During Difficult Times
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) was a very hard time for the Abbey of Montserrat. Many religious people were killed in Catalonia. Among them were 22 monks from Montserrat Abbey. Leaders in Catalonia tried to stop this violence. They helped many priests and religious people hide or leave the country.
During the rule of Francisco Franco, Santa Maria de Montserrat became a safe place. It was a haven for thinkers, artists, and students. Franco's police often waited nearby for people they wanted to arrest.
From the 1940s, Montserrat Abbey became a symbol of Catalan nationalism. This means it stood for the unique culture and identity of Catalonia. On April 27, 1947, a large church service was held. Over 100,000 people attended. During this service, prayers were said in the Catalan language. This was a brave act, as Franco's government tried to stop people from using Catalan.
The abbey also played a big part in publishing books in Catalan. They started children's magazines like L'Infantil and Tretzevents. They also published cultural and religious journals. In 1958, the Estela Press was founded to print religious books in Catalan. The abbey also helped hide people who were working against the government.
In December 1970, about 300 Spanish artists and thinkers held a protest at the abbey. They were protesting against death sentences given to some Basque activists. The police surrounded the monastery. The protesters were eventually removed. But their actions helped convince the government to change the death sentences.
Famous Abbots
- Cassià Maria Just
Montserrat in Stories
The first chapter of Dan Brown's 2017 novel Origin takes place at Santa Maria de Montserrat. In the book, an important secret meeting happens there. It is between a well-known atheist and leaders from Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim faiths.
Images for kids
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L'Escolania (the Boys' Choir) inside the basilica
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The Basilica viewed from the entrance
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The abbey as seen from the Funicular de Sant Joan
See also
In Spanish: Monasterio de Montserrat para niños
- Llibre Vermell de Montserrat
- Saint Jerome in Meditation (Caravaggio)
- Joan Cererols
- A year’s journey through France and Spain, Vol 1, 1777 Philip Thicknesse Letter xx onwards
