Steven Dwyer
Active Member
Cami Sant Jaume, Barcelona to Montserrat - by foot or train
This is a work in progress, please comment and especially provide any corrections. I will soon be adding comments on the various options of the routes from Barcelona, but wanted to get the ball started with this. If you can think of additional information you think should be included, please let me know.
Whether you are planning to walk from Barcelona, or plan to start your Camino from the Monastery at Montserrat, here is a lot of what you need to know.
Montserrat by Train
The easiest and cheapest way to reach Montserrat is to take the R5 train. The R5 runs hourly on the weekends and half hourly during the week. https://www.fgc.cat/en/
From Barcelona, you can catch the R5 from the Espanya metro/rail station.
From El Prat International Airport, the easiest way to reach the R5 train is to take the L77 bus which stops at both terminal 1 and terminal 2. You can buy the ticket on the bus. Get off at the Sant Boi station. Here you can transfer to the R5. Bus start around 6:10 and continue till after 22:00.
From the Sants rail station, take the metro Green L3 two stops in the direction Trinitat Nova and you will get off Espanya.
When purchasing your ticket it is advisable to purchase a combined ticket that includes the R5 train and either the Aeri (cable car) or the Cremallera (rack railway). The ticket machines all have English translations. If you are 65 or older, look for the pensioner discount.
The Aeri is accessed from the rail stop Aeri de Montserrat. Of the two, the Aeri has the nicest approach as you get a chance to see the monastery at a distance on the ride up. The first car is at 09:40 and the last is 19:00 March to October.Winter offers reduced hours.
https://www.aeridemontserrat.com/en/
The rack railway is accessed from the Monistrol de Montserrat rail stop. First train is at 8:48 and the last train between 17:48 to 19:48 depending on the season. https://www.cremallerademontserrat.cat/en/home/
Walking the Cami Sant Jaume - the various routes described
Will be filled in soon, for now a set of wikilocs is at the bottom.
At the Monastery of Montserrat
Map of the Monastery Complex
The pilgrim office
No matter which way you choose to arrive at the Monastery de Montserrat, your first stop will be in the Centre de Coordinació Pastoral for the pilgrim office. To get there, go through the arch opposite the Cremallera station. Head with the crowds towards the basilica and to just to the left of the basilica is the Centre de Coordinació Pastoral. Enter the door and the pilgrim office is straight ahead on with a Camino sign on the left. The office is normally open 09:30-13:00 and 16:00-18:00. If you arrive after 18:00, go to the Hotel Hostal Abat Cisneros and they will call the hospitalero. You should call at least one day in advance 938 777 766, ccpastoral@santuari-montserrat.com To let them know you are coming.
There are hospitaleros from June 24th (more or less) until The second week of October. After that, they are available on the weekends. If there is not a hospitalero present, there is still the possibility of pilgrim accommodation for the night if you call in advance. You go to the Centro de Coordinació Pastoral during the indicated open hours, and you will be given the key after registration. If you arrive after 18h00, you should check in at the desk of the hotel and are given a room key. However, with no hospitalero the accommodation does not include kitchen access..
The Hospitalero will stamp your credential, or issue you one haven’t received one yet. If you are staying in the albergue they will register you. There is a form you fill in and they will then make a photocopy of your passport/ ID card. The albergue is 8€ for the night. They will issue you your key then walk you to the Albergue. Also he will give you some useful informations, like the Albergues in the Camí Català.
The Albergue
The pilgrims rooms are housed in the Alberg Abat Oliba that opened in April of 2019. The Alberg is a large modern building open to the general public and houses lots of trekkers and mountain climbers. There is also free WiFi that works reasonably well. Two rooms were designated for a pilgrim space that have bunks for 14 pilgrims. Each pilgrim is assigned an upper or lower bunk with an assigned drawer under the bottom bunk and a locker that locks with your room key. Each bunk has a reading light and a plug outlet. There is also a blue night light above the bed.
The beds are in two areas with a kitchen/ dining space in between. The is one toilet room with sink and one shower room with sink in each area. There is a credit card operated laundry on the first floor.
In the kitchen area dishes, silverware and some cooking pots are available. There is a stove top and refrigerator, and typical for an albergue some condiments. Possibly, an earlier pilgrim may have left behind pasta, rice, or other food. There is a small grocery opposite the albergue that has basics and some limited baked goods in part of the gift shop. Not to be missed are the farmer’s market stalls across from the covered walkway overlooking the valley. The market stalls have cheeses, nuts, honey, fig breads and some have sausages. I highly recommend try the Mel i Mato, Catalán cottage cheese served with honey.
Pilgrim Blessing
While you are with the hospitalero, ask them to arrange for the pilgrim blessing. The blessing takes place following vespers (18:45 to 19:15) and the hospitalero will normally meet you below the organ and take you back for the blessing. The blessing takes place in the chapel behind the the image of La Moreneta (The Black Madonna). After the Blessing, you are allowed to visit La Moreneta. It should also be noted that the Monastery’s famed boys choir sings the Salve Regina following vespers Sunday to Thursday.
Restaurants
Pilgrims menu. In the evening at 20:00, the restaurant at the Hotel Hostal Abat Cisneros offers a 3 course 10€ pilgrim menu served in the bar area and not the restaurant. The menu consists of a first course of either soup or salad, a second course of meat or fish and a desert course of fruit or yogurt.. There was a vegetarian option of pasta in a tomato sauce. Bottled water is included and beer and wine are available for purchase. I thought the regular meal was very good but the vegetarian option was average. The regular hotel menu looked pricey.
La Cafeteria is a self service cafeteria located opposite the Cremallera station. It is open 8:45-18:45 daily and until 20:00 weekends. Hot plates like Catalán sausage served with beans are available at about 7€ part of the day.
In the Mirador dels Apostols building there is a self service bar, the Bufet Montserrat and the Restaurant de Monteserrat. The bar is open 09:20-17:00 weekdays, and until 18:00 on the weekends. The bar has a selection of bottled/canned beverages, prepackaged salads and sandwiches . The buffet is open 12:15 to 16:00 and costs 16.50€. It has the usual salad bar, a hot line with vegetables, fish, chicken, pork hops, sausages, pizza, pasta and Paella. A good selections of fruits and desserts. Beverage is self service with sodas, wine and beer on tap. The restaurant has a couple of set menus at 19€ and 28€ and offers ala carte as well.
Staying Additional Days at the Monastery
If you have just arrived from a trip halfway around the world and are exhausted and want a rest day before starting to walk, the Monastery is a good place to do that. Likewise, if you are reading this and not ready to walk the Cami Sant Jaume but plan to visit the Monastery, rooms are available to the public. The Hotel Hostal Abat is a 3 star hotel, Alberg Abat Oliba (hostel beds from 12€ or private rooms from 36€, the Cels-Les Abat Marcet, fully equipped apartments with a two night minimum stay. Prices at the Monastery are less than Barcelona Princesa, so if you visit, it makes sense to stay over.
Leaving the Monastery
The Camino leaves the Monastery following the road towards the Mirador dels Apostols building. Across from the building is a set of stairs marked both for the Camino de Santiago and the Camino Ignaciano. It is also known more commonly at the Monastery as the Cami dels Degotalls. Take the path and you will pass a stair way on the right hand side with confusing arrow markings, do not take this stairway. Continue on until you see a gate with the emblem of the Camino Ignaciano. Take this stairway down to the road. Cross the road and there is a path behind the guardrail. The wikiloc below 06-MONTSERRAT – IGUALADA has photos of this route.
WIKILOCs provided by Jordi Xicola, a hospitalero at Montserrat.
BARCELONA A MONTSERRAT
01-Moll de les Dressanes (BCN) -Laberint d’Horta
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-cat-etapa-01-barcelona-port-al-laberint-dhorta-36932951
02-Horta (BCN) – Les Fonts – Ullestrell
https://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=16025292
03-Les Fonts a Ullestrell
http://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15081473
04-Ullestrell a Olesa de Montserrat
http://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15081779
05-Olesa de Montserrat a Monestir de Montserrat (Collbató)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-sender...-02-ullastrell-a-montserrat-collbato-16014465
MONTSERRAT A ZARAGOZA
06-MONTSERRAT – IGUALADA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-01-montserrat-igualada-fins-refugi-33340389
07-IGUALADA – L’ESPELT – LA PANADELLA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/igualada-lespelt-33344309
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/lespelt-panadella-33391477
08-LA PANADELLA – TARREGA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-03-la-panadella-a-tarrega-34259233
09-TARREGA- EL PALAU D’ANGLESOLA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/tarrega-el-palau-danglesola-34492675
10-EL PALAU D’ANGLESOLA – ALCOLETGE
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-cat-05-palau-de-anglesola-alcoledge-34671280
11-ALCOLETGE – BUTSENIT
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-11-alcoletge-a-butsenit-22751488
11(especial)-ALCOLETGE – LLEIDA (Fins dalt del campanar de la SEU)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-alcoletge-lleida-dalt-del-campanar-de-la-seu-24883915
12 BUTSÈNIT – ALCARRÀS – FRAGA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-12-butsenit-alcarras-fraga-37437206
13- FRAGA – CANDASNOS
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-13-fraga-candasnos-37471354
14- CANDASNOS – PEÑALBA – BUJARALOZ [pel nord i mes curt]
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-14-nord-candasnos-penalba-bujaraloz
14bis- CANDASNOS – PEÑALBA – BUJARALOZ [pel sur, mes llarc i asfaltat. Bo per dies plujosos]
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-14-sur-candasnos-penalba-bujaraloz-37604661
15- BUJARALOZ – VENTAS DE SANTA LUCIA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-15-bujaraloz-ventas-de-santa-lucia-37601508
16- VENTAS DE SANTA LUCIA – PINA DEL EBRO
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-16-las-ventas-de-santa-lucia-pina-de-ebro-37600731
17- PINA DEL EBRO – BURGO DEL EBRO (Ermita Zaragoza Vieja)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-17-pina-de-ebro-burgo-de-ebrozarvieja-wp-38025545
18-BURGO DEL EBRO (Ermita Zaragoza Vieja)-ZARAGOZA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-18-el-burgo-de-ebro-zaragoza-37656141
This is a work in progress, please comment and especially provide any corrections. I will soon be adding comments on the various options of the routes from Barcelona, but wanted to get the ball started with this. If you can think of additional information you think should be included, please let me know.
Whether you are planning to walk from Barcelona, or plan to start your Camino from the Monastery at Montserrat, here is a lot of what you need to know.
Montserrat by Train
The easiest and cheapest way to reach Montserrat is to take the R5 train. The R5 runs hourly on the weekends and half hourly during the week. https://www.fgc.cat/en/
From Barcelona, you can catch the R5 from the Espanya metro/rail station.
From El Prat International Airport, the easiest way to reach the R5 train is to take the L77 bus which stops at both terminal 1 and terminal 2. You can buy the ticket on the bus. Get off at the Sant Boi station. Here you can transfer to the R5. Bus start around 6:10 and continue till after 22:00.
From the Sants rail station, take the metro Green L3 two stops in the direction Trinitat Nova and you will get off Espanya.
When purchasing your ticket it is advisable to purchase a combined ticket that includes the R5 train and either the Aeri (cable car) or the Cremallera (rack railway). The ticket machines all have English translations. If you are 65 or older, look for the pensioner discount.
The Aeri is accessed from the rail stop Aeri de Montserrat. Of the two, the Aeri has the nicest approach as you get a chance to see the monastery at a distance on the ride up. The first car is at 09:40 and the last is 19:00 March to October.Winter offers reduced hours.
https://www.aeridemontserrat.com/en/
The rack railway is accessed from the Monistrol de Montserrat rail stop. First train is at 8:48 and the last train between 17:48 to 19:48 depending on the season. https://www.cremallerademontserrat.cat/en/home/
Walking the Cami Sant Jaume - the various routes described
Will be filled in soon, for now a set of wikilocs is at the bottom.
At the Monastery of Montserrat
Map of the Monastery Complex
The pilgrim office
No matter which way you choose to arrive at the Monastery de Montserrat, your first stop will be in the Centre de Coordinació Pastoral for the pilgrim office. To get there, go through the arch opposite the Cremallera station. Head with the crowds towards the basilica and to just to the left of the basilica is the Centre de Coordinació Pastoral. Enter the door and the pilgrim office is straight ahead on with a Camino sign on the left. The office is normally open 09:30-13:00 and 16:00-18:00. If you arrive after 18:00, go to the Hotel Hostal Abat Cisneros and they will call the hospitalero. You should call at least one day in advance 938 777 766, ccpastoral@santuari-montserrat.com To let them know you are coming.
There are hospitaleros from June 24th (more or less) until The second week of October. After that, they are available on the weekends. If there is not a hospitalero present, there is still the possibility of pilgrim accommodation for the night if you call in advance. You go to the Centro de Coordinació Pastoral during the indicated open hours, and you will be given the key after registration. If you arrive after 18h00, you should check in at the desk of the hotel and are given a room key. However, with no hospitalero the accommodation does not include kitchen access..
The Hospitalero will stamp your credential, or issue you one haven’t received one yet. If you are staying in the albergue they will register you. There is a form you fill in and they will then make a photocopy of your passport/ ID card. The albergue is 8€ for the night. They will issue you your key then walk you to the Albergue. Also he will give you some useful informations, like the Albergues in the Camí Català.
The Albergue
The pilgrims rooms are housed in the Alberg Abat Oliba that opened in April of 2019. The Alberg is a large modern building open to the general public and houses lots of trekkers and mountain climbers. There is also free WiFi that works reasonably well. Two rooms were designated for a pilgrim space that have bunks for 14 pilgrims. Each pilgrim is assigned an upper or lower bunk with an assigned drawer under the bottom bunk and a locker that locks with your room key. Each bunk has a reading light and a plug outlet. There is also a blue night light above the bed.
The beds are in two areas with a kitchen/ dining space in between. The is one toilet room with sink and one shower room with sink in each area. There is a credit card operated laundry on the first floor.
In the kitchen area dishes, silverware and some cooking pots are available. There is a stove top and refrigerator, and typical for an albergue some condiments. Possibly, an earlier pilgrim may have left behind pasta, rice, or other food. There is a small grocery opposite the albergue that has basics and some limited baked goods in part of the gift shop. Not to be missed are the farmer’s market stalls across from the covered walkway overlooking the valley. The market stalls have cheeses, nuts, honey, fig breads and some have sausages. I highly recommend try the Mel i Mato, Catalán cottage cheese served with honey.
Pilgrim Blessing
While you are with the hospitalero, ask them to arrange for the pilgrim blessing. The blessing takes place following vespers (18:45 to 19:15) and the hospitalero will normally meet you below the organ and take you back for the blessing. The blessing takes place in the chapel behind the the image of La Moreneta (The Black Madonna). After the Blessing, you are allowed to visit La Moreneta. It should also be noted that the Monastery’s famed boys choir sings the Salve Regina following vespers Sunday to Thursday.
Restaurants
Pilgrims menu. In the evening at 20:00, the restaurant at the Hotel Hostal Abat Cisneros offers a 3 course 10€ pilgrim menu served in the bar area and not the restaurant. The menu consists of a first course of either soup or salad, a second course of meat or fish and a desert course of fruit or yogurt.. There was a vegetarian option of pasta in a tomato sauce. Bottled water is included and beer and wine are available for purchase. I thought the regular meal was very good but the vegetarian option was average. The regular hotel menu looked pricey.
La Cafeteria is a self service cafeteria located opposite the Cremallera station. It is open 8:45-18:45 daily and until 20:00 weekends. Hot plates like Catalán sausage served with beans are available at about 7€ part of the day.
In the Mirador dels Apostols building there is a self service bar, the Bufet Montserrat and the Restaurant de Monteserrat. The bar is open 09:20-17:00 weekdays, and until 18:00 on the weekends. The bar has a selection of bottled/canned beverages, prepackaged salads and sandwiches . The buffet is open 12:15 to 16:00 and costs 16.50€. It has the usual salad bar, a hot line with vegetables, fish, chicken, pork hops, sausages, pizza, pasta and Paella. A good selections of fruits and desserts. Beverage is self service with sodas, wine and beer on tap. The restaurant has a couple of set menus at 19€ and 28€ and offers ala carte as well.
Staying Additional Days at the Monastery
If you have just arrived from a trip halfway around the world and are exhausted and want a rest day before starting to walk, the Monastery is a good place to do that. Likewise, if you are reading this and not ready to walk the Cami Sant Jaume but plan to visit the Monastery, rooms are available to the public. The Hotel Hostal Abat is a 3 star hotel, Alberg Abat Oliba (hostel beds from 12€ or private rooms from 36€, the Cels-Les Abat Marcet, fully equipped apartments with a two night minimum stay. Prices at the Monastery are less than Barcelona Princesa, so if you visit, it makes sense to stay over.
Leaving the Monastery
The Camino leaves the Monastery following the road towards the Mirador dels Apostols building. Across from the building is a set of stairs marked both for the Camino de Santiago and the Camino Ignaciano. It is also known more commonly at the Monastery as the Cami dels Degotalls. Take the path and you will pass a stair way on the right hand side with confusing arrow markings, do not take this stairway. Continue on until you see a gate with the emblem of the Camino Ignaciano. Take this stairway down to the road. Cross the road and there is a path behind the guardrail. The wikiloc below 06-MONTSERRAT – IGUALADA has photos of this route.
WIKILOCs provided by Jordi Xicola, a hospitalero at Montserrat.
BARCELONA A MONTSERRAT
01-Moll de les Dressanes (BCN) -Laberint d’Horta
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-cat-etapa-01-barcelona-port-al-laberint-dhorta-36932951
02-Horta (BCN) – Les Fonts – Ullestrell
https://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=16025292
03-Les Fonts a Ullestrell
http://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15081473
04-Ullestrell a Olesa de Montserrat
http://ca.wikiloc.com/wikiloc/view.do?id=15081779
05-Olesa de Montserrat a Monestir de Montserrat (Collbató)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-sender...-02-ullastrell-a-montserrat-collbato-16014465
MONTSERRAT A ZARAGOZA
06-MONTSERRAT – IGUALADA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-01-montserrat-igualada-fins-refugi-33340389
07-IGUALADA – L’ESPELT – LA PANADELLA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/igualada-lespelt-33344309
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/lespelt-panadella-33391477
08-LA PANADELLA – TARREGA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-03-la-panadella-a-tarrega-34259233
09-TARREGA- EL PALAU D’ANGLESOLA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/tarrega-el-palau-danglesola-34492675
10-EL PALAU D’ANGLESOLA – ALCOLETGE
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-cat-05-palau-de-anglesola-alcoledge-34671280
11-ALCOLETGE – BUTSENIT
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-11-alcoletge-a-butsenit-22751488
11(especial)-ALCOLETGE – LLEIDA (Fins dalt del campanar de la SEU)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-alcoletge-lleida-dalt-del-campanar-de-la-seu-24883915
12 BUTSÈNIT – ALCARRÀS – FRAGA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-12-butsenit-alcarras-fraga-37437206
13- FRAGA – CANDASNOS
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-13-fraga-candasnos-37471354
14- CANDASNOS – PEÑALBA – BUJARALOZ [pel nord i mes curt]
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-14-nord-candasnos-penalba-bujaraloz
14bis- CANDASNOS – PEÑALBA – BUJARALOZ [pel sur, mes llarc i asfaltat. Bo per dies plujosos]
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-14-sur-candasnos-penalba-bujaraloz-37604661
15- BUJARALOZ – VENTAS DE SANTA LUCIA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-15-bujaraloz-ventas-de-santa-lucia-37601508
16- VENTAS DE SANTA LUCIA – PINA DEL EBRO
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-16-las-ventas-de-santa-lucia-pina-de-ebro-37600731
17- PINA DEL EBRO – BURGO DEL EBRO (Ermita Zaragoza Vieja)
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-17-pina-de-ebro-burgo-de-ebrozarvieja-wp-38025545
18-BURGO DEL EBRO (Ermita Zaragoza Vieja)-ZARAGOZA
https://ca.wikiloc.com/rutes-senderisme/csj-c-18-el-burgo-de-ebro-zaragoza-37656141
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