Cel·les Abat Marcet

The Cel·les Abat Marcet are the apartments of the Montserrat sanctuary: a 1960s building, designed by Father Pere Busquets, on plaça de l'Abat Oliba, inside the precinct. They are named after Abbot Antoni Maria Marcet, who governed Montserrat from 1912 to 1946. In 2023 a thorough energy refurbishment was carried out with Next Generation EU funds: new windows, an insulated façade and independent heating in each apartment. It is the option for staying two or three days, cooking at home and getting around the mountain on foot, and, unlike the hotel and the hostel, it admits dogs.

From the studio to the apartment for four

The building has 92 apartments, with room for 260 people. According to the sanctuary's listing, there are 14 studios for one person, 34 apartments for two, 12 for three and 34 for four. All have a living-dining room, equipped kitchen, full bathroom, heating, telephone and television. There is a lift and adapted access for people with reduced mobility. Payment is by AMEX or VISA card.

The listing does not publish prices: they are given by the Montserrat Visita booking engine when you choose dates and occupancy. If it shows as closed for your days, call the central office, on 938 777 701, or write to [email protected].

Children free and dogs for a supplement

Children up to 12 do not pay if they are with two adults, with a maximum of one free child per apartment: a family of two adults and two children pays for one of the two. Dogs are welcome with a supplement per stay; the listing does not say how much, so ask when you book. To go up with your dog, the Aeri takes it free, on a lead and muzzled.

Rack railway included and shopping before you go up

If you book on the Montserrat Visita website, the rack railway ticket for every day of the stay is included: you park free at the Monistrol-Vila station, collect the ticket at the ticket office and go up without a car. You can come down and go up each day without paying more. As a guest, you also enter the basilica without the tourist ticket.

You enter the apartment from 13:00 and leave it before 10:00. For cooking, the precinct's grocery shop, the Queviures, opens from 9:00 to 17:45 on weekdays and until 18:45 at weekends and public holidays; for the first dinner, bring your shopping from below.

Els Degotalls and Sant Jeroni from plaça de l'Abat Oliba

From plaça de l'Abat Oliba you can walk to the Els Degotalls path, flat and 50 minutes, which works with small children, and to the Path of the Hermitages by Sant Miquel. With a full day, the climb to Sant Jeroni on the Sant Joan funicular takes you to the top of the mountain. The Cafetería de Montserrat opens at 8:45 if you do not fancy breakfast at home.