The Benedictine monastery was founded on a narrow mountain terrace at an altitude of 725 meters in the IX century. When the Abbot Oliva in the eleventh century the monastery was greatly enlarged. In 1811, during the war with Napoleon, the monastery was severely damaged, but in 1844 he was revived and is an active monastery and at the present time.

Montserrat monastery – the main Shrine of Catalonia, a place of pilgrimage for Christians from around the world. Here is the image of the patroness of Catalonia – La-Morenita, a wooden statue of the virgin Mary with the Infant. According to the legend, the statue was carved by the Apostle Luke, and the Apostle Peter brought it to Spain in 50 year. Scholars date the statue to the XII century.

The Piazza Santa Maria exits the facade of the Cathedral of the monastery. The walls of the temple have survived from the sixteenth century, and neo-Renaissance facade decorated with sculptures, was built in 1900. The lush interior of the Church was painted by Catalan artists. The altar is decorated with colorful enamel. In the glass chapel behind the altar is kept the sacred statue of the virgin Mary. Every day at one o'clock in the Church singing choir boys, which is considered the oldest in Europe.
Piazza Santa Maria is framed by a Gothic gallery, where the Museum of the monastery – the collection of works of art, including paintings by El Greco, Picasso and Dali.

The funicular connects the monastery with caves, hermitages, and chapels located in the vicinity of the monastery.