Santa Cecilia and Hermitages

There are some 15 chapels, former hermitages, dotted over Mount Montserrat. formerly subject to the dioceses of Barcelona or Vic, they were all abandoned when the hermits were forced to flee before the French invasion in 1811. Though they were later rebuilt, few were inhabited once more and most were finally abandoned in 1822, after which the buildings began to deteriorate. All that remains now, in some cases, are the walls.

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Santa Cecília

Monastery of Santa Cecília stood some four kilometres from that of Montserrat, on the road to Can Maçana. The church, simple and austere, basically that same as that originally built in the 10th century, is one of the purest examples of early Catalan Romanesque art. The three apses, with Lombard arches. correspond to the nave and two aisles in the interior, with hammer-carved stone walls that were originally whitewashed. The building is harmoniously integrated into the landscape, forming a beautiful site. The Monastery was founded between 942 and 945 by Abbot Cesari. The community was never large, and the monastery was finally merged with that of Montserrat in 1539. Today, Santa Cecília houses a mountain refuge.

Hermitages

Hermitage of Sant Joan

Is one of the most accessible from the Sanctuary. To reach it, we take the funicular railway of the same name. From the station at the top, we can enjoy splendid views of the monastery.

Herrmitage of Sant Onofre

Perches on the rocks. Here we can see the cistern, excavated into the very stone.

Hermitage of Sant Miquel

Though documented as far back as the 10th century, the present builging is a much later reconstruction, inagurated in 1870.

Hermitage of Sant Jeroni

We take a path that starts at the upper station on the Sant Joan funicular railway line. Taking around an hour and a half, this is one of the most beautiful walks in Montserrat Natural Park, as it culminates at the peak of Sant Jeroni, the highest point in the mountain (1.236 m).

Hermitage of Sant Dimes

Before the hermitage was built, a fortification stood here, built at the command of King Peter of Aragon. Later, some 30 bandoleers made this their stronghold, robbing pilgrims until they were finally driven off by a group of countrymen. The original building was left in ruins and the chapel was built, though it now houses a weather station.

Hermitage of Santa Anna

By the María mountain torrent, beside the crossroads of the paths leading to the other chapels, not far from the monastery, for which reason this was where the hermits came twice a week to hear mass.

Hermitage of La Santa Creu

Has been conserved, along with the two cisterns, still in use. This one of the few hermitages inhabited in modern times, its last occupant being Father Basilio, who died at the age of 78 on 23 December 2003.

Herrmitage of La Santísima Trinitat

Are remains of some of the walls, the cistern and the Chapel of El Sant Crist, More rooms were added to the hermitage in the 17th century as, along with the Hermitage of Sant Dimes, it had direct access to the monastery via a staircase with 660 steps.

Hermitage of Sant Benet

Was built in 1536 to shorten the distance between the two hermitages. All that now remains, however, is a chapel-shaped building built later, and now used as a mountain refuge.

Hermitage of Sant Jaume

Are the wall foundations, now half-hidden amongst the vegetation. The hermitage stands on a rock known as "Gorra Marinera", and which commands five views of the monastery. From here, the hermit could hear the church organ and monks choir at song and prayer.