Montserrat Rack Railway
The easiest route to the heavens
The easiest route to the heavens
Climb up Montserrat on one of the only two rack railways still in operation in Catalonia!
Spectacular nature
Catalonia’s most popular railway line was inaugurated in 1892 and since then pilgrims and travellers from all around the world have used this rack railway to climb to the top of Montserrat. A short but intense and scenic journey to discover one of Catalonia’s symbols: Montserrat Abbey and its famous Black Madonna, ‘La Moreneta’.
The Montserrat rack railway covers the five kilometres between Monistrol de Montserrat and Montserrat. It is a route that takes you to the top of Catalonia’s most emblematic mountain, which is visible from all angles thanks to the panoramic view offered by the train’s large windows. Its history dates back to 1891, when Joaquim Carrera, an engineer who was passionate about Montserrat and Swiss mountain trains, convinced an entrepreneur to build a train between the recently-opened Monistrol de Montserrat station and the monastery.
The train, which was fully overhauled and renovated in 2003, crosses the river Llobregat and runs over a bridge and through the Àngel (Angel) and Apòstol (Apostle) tunnels to Plaça de la Creu, at the foot of the monastery. From there you can you appreciate the scale and beauty of the mountain and its church.
Points of interest
- Sant Joan funicular
- Santa Cova funicular
