Looking for a day filled with Gothic and Modernist art, architecture, astounding rock formations, unbeatable views and exceptional food and wine tasting - look no further!
Our Montserrat and Wine Country day tour is a well-rounded, all-inclusive, all-day experience for travelers of all ages and interest levels. The day begins with a guided visit at the impressive Monastery of Montserrat, located 50 minutes west of Barcelona and standing at an unexpected 725 mts. / 2378 ft. above sea level.
This tour consists of a 1000 years of legend, history and culture. Legend has it that in the 9th century, shepherds 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, followed by the monastery, were established in the 11th century. By the 12th century, news spread far and wide of the miracles of Montserrat. The monastic community settled, which prompted pilgrims from around the world to flock to the sacred mountain, as they still do today. The Monastery of the Virgin was founded in 1025, reconstructed various times, destroyed by Napoleon in 1811 and rebuilt in the late 19th and early 20th century by the Catalan Modernist masters, including Gaudí, himself. It is, in fact, one of the key inspirations to Gaudí’s Sagrada Familia.
The day includes: hearing the famous Boys’ Choir perform (most days), visiting the “Moreneta de Montserrat” (one of the black Madonnas of Europe) and a light walk to Santa Cova, where the black Madonna is said to have originally been found and rescued. We leave Montserrat and head over to enjoy a fantastic lunch of local Catalan country cuisine in a traditional restaurant at the base of Montserrat, followed by private field tour, guided exclusive visit and three-product wine and cava tasting at one of the premier, small, boutique vineyards in the Penedès wine region.
Montserrat and Wine Country Day Tour consist of only 2-8 guests and are guided by one of our fun, informative guides who give you a great, detailed explanation of the history of Montserrat, as well as the history of the region of Catalunya. The tour can easily be catered to both young and old, to those with or without specific religious interest, and to both wine connoisseurs and wine ‘enthusiasts’. A truly fantastic and authentic day trip outside of the city during your visit to Barcelona!
Important
There will be a surcharge of 15 EUR / person if you end up being the only two clients on any non-private tour. Although this is not likely (especially between April and October), it would be necessary in order to cover guide fees and other costs that would normally be covered by having more than two clients on the tour. The positive side of the supplement is that you would end up getting a private tour at a fraction of the normal private touring price!