PRIVATE MONTSERRAT TOUR WITH LUNCH AND WINE TASTING IN CELLAR
- Personal pick-up & drop-off : time and place that suits you best
- Entrance fee to Montserrat monastery and the cellar
- Private Transport
- Licensed tour guide
- Tour Length: 8 hours
- Guided visit to Montserrat Monastery and Cellar
Overview
This tour combine two most popular sites near Barcelona: Montserrat mountain with 1000 years old Benedictine monastery surrounded by beautiful landscape and Penedes wine region. The Benedictine Monk retreat at Montserrat offers you some of the most spectacular mountain views of Catalunya. The visit includes a guided tour in one of our favourite family-owned cellar. You will learn how to produce and taste Cava (method champenoise wine).
ITINERARY
You will be picked up at your hotel in Barcelona and we will drive south-west, along the valley of river Llobregat. We will drive past several small towns, crops and mountains. After approximately 50 minutes we will reach the Monastic site of Montserrat. The views are astonishing, you will be delighted to learn about the legends and the history of the place. Upon arrival, your guided tour consists of visit throughout the Basilica and Monastery, with free time to explore the site on your own afterwards. There are many activities to choose from – you may want to touch the Black Madonna, visit the one of the best museum in Catalonia with Picasso , Caravaggio or Dalí works, make your way to the Holy Cave, ride a funicular to the top of the mountain, or shop at the farmer´s market. At 1pm you will be able to listen to the boy’s choir that usually sing everyday except Saturdays and on school holidays. The Escolania choir is one of the oldest Boy´s Choir in Europe and it is absolutely an experience to see and hear them sing.
After Montserrat and after the lunch in authentic restaurant with catalan gastronomy this tour will take you to the Penedès region where some of the best wines and cavas in Catalonia are produced. You will enjoy views of vineyards, olives trees, stone countryside houses and wineries. Take a walk in the fields and enjoy the great views over Montserrat mountain and taste different varieties of wine and cava.
ADDITIONAL INFO
- The weather in Montserrat is colder than the city center. Wearing a sweatshirt or sweater will be a good idea.
- Comfortable clothes and shoes are recommended as there is some walking involved.
- If you have reduced mobility, please contact us before booking. We do our best to welcome everyone on board!
- Cablecar*: If you are not scared of heights you can choose option of cablecar to get to the monastery. The ride takes less than 5 minutes, and even if guides can’t skip lines, there isn’t usually many people when we get there. Not recommended for people with walking issues either, as the walk from the upper station to the Monastery is uphill and involves some steps.
WHAT WILL YOU SEE
Montserrat is a mountain, a unique Natural Park, a massive rock over 4000 feet high, visible for miles, with weird shapes and rounded peaks that just into the sky; there are walks, paths, stairs, with caves and hermitages scattered over the mountain, and mysterious rocks and wonderful views.
Montserrat is a Benedictine monastery nearly 1000 years old, perched half way up the mountain and sheltered by its peaks. This is the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Montserrat, popularly called “La Moreneta” as she is black, patron saint of Catalonia and a presence strongly felt and revered. and for nearly a thousand years Benedictine monks have lived atop the mountain to welcome pilgrims to her shrine.The community of monks also run a boys’ school devoted to the study of music, and a famous choir. The choir is made up of 30 boys, 10 to 14 years old, and considered one of the oldest boys’ choirs in Europe, documented from 1223.
Montserrat museum with paintings by Greco, Picasso and Dalí among many others and treasures from ancient Egypt including a mummy. Our Lady’s Chapel, located in the Basilica, is usually open from 8:30 to 10:00 and from 12:00 to 18:30.
Penedés region is one of the most important wine and cava regions in Catalonia. Penedés land is between the sea and the mountains, and this influence of the sun and the sea makes that Penedés region is considered one of the country’s best wine-producing regions after the Rioja, it is also one of the most ancient viticulture areas in Europe. Through this tour, you will learn all about the world of wine and Sparkling wine.
Sant Sadurní d’Anoia: In the region of Alt Penedès, is undoubtedly the capital of cava, with about one hundred wineries. Landscape and territory are other great attractions of this municipality surrounded by vineyards. The landscape of vineyards and cavas are the main attractions of the municipality, present in all kinds of manifestations: architecture, industry and cultural activities. A walk through Sant Sadurní reveals the architectural jewels that the cava industry has left in its different eras. Representative buildings of Catalan modernism and the signature of the greatest artists of the moment turned the cava factories into large living museums with an interest that grows over time.
WHY GAUDÍ TOURS?
Why Gaudí Tours?
- Skip line at all top sites. No need to pre-purchase tickets yourself
- Experts in Gaudí and Modernism
- Professional and fully licensed local guides
- Totally flexible
- We adapt to your interests
- Small Group preference (1 – 9 people). We use individual radio guide for each assistant with big group
- No burdens, no agglomerations, no rush
- Travel tips from friends: recommendations to help you plan the rest of your stay in Barcelona
Rates
This private tour is chauffer-driven car/minivan at your service and expert local guide during the 8 hours.
*Note: Entrance fees will be added to the final price depending on the number of people.
Feel free to ask any question about this private tour ask at info@gauditours.net