Almost everyone walks right by without noticing it. The Montserrat Audiovisual Space—Espai Audiovisual “Montserrat, portes endins”—is located across from the tourist information office, and it’s a great place to find answers to the questions: What is Montserrat, and why has it been so important for a thousand years?
It’s a journey through screens, projections, and immersive rooms across eight consecutive spaces. If you visit first thing in the morning, the rest of your day will make much more sense.
The Montserrat Audiovisual Space is a 400-square-meter exhibition located across from the tourist office that explores the mountain, the monastery, and the sanctuary across eight rooms, concluding with a performance by the Escolania children’s choir. It is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., admission is €5.50 for adults, and the tour lasts about 45 minutes.
What you see inside: the eight rooms
The route is built around three axes — mountain, monastery and shrine — split into eight consecutive spaces. You move at your own pace, and the panels run in twelve languages: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese.
- 1What is MontserratThe opening film sets out the three pillars — mountain, monastery, shrine — and how they fit together.
- 2How the mountain was formedThe conglomerate pinnacles explained: why Montserrat looks like nowhere else in Catalonia.
- 3Illustrious pilgrimsThe historical figures who climbed up here, and the prayers and turning points they left behind.
- 4The Holy ImageThe Romanesque carving of the late 12th century, its iconography and its devotion worldwide. See our guide to the Black Madonna.
- 5A day in the life of the monksA large-format video wall follows a Benedictine day, from first prayer to Vespers — areas no visitor ever sees.
- 6Montserrat and cultureThe abbey’s publishing house, library, museum and broadcaster, and their part in keeping the Catalan language alive.
- 7The EscolaniaOne of Europe’s oldest music schools, and how the boys are trained. More in our Montserrat Boys Choir guide.
- 8The Montserrat of everyoneThe closing room, with a piece written for the Escolania — lyrics by Fr. Lluís Juanós, music by Albert Guinovart.
Where it is and how to get in
The Montserrat Audiovisual Space is located in the heart of the monastic complex, right across from the information office. You can access it from the main street, where you’ll see a sign for the Audiovisual Space pointing to the entrance.
Locate it against everything else on our interactive map of Montserrat.
Opening hours, tickets and how long you need
The Audiovisual Space keeps the same hours all year, weekends included, and there is no advance booking. Admission at the time of writing:
- Adults — €5.50
- Seniors and groups — €4.00
- Children aged 8 to 16 — €3.00
Accessibility and the bookshop
The entire exhibition is located on a single floor, with step-free access, making it one of the most accessible places in Montserrat for anyone with limited mobility. On the way in, you’ll pass through the monastery’s main bookstore—which carries books about Montserrat, recordings by the Escolania, postcards, and souvenirs—and it maintains the same hours.
FAQ — Montserrat Audiovisual Space
Is the Montserrat Audiovisual Space worth visiting?
Yes. For under an hour it gives you the context — geology, history, the Holy Image, monastic life — that makes the basilica and the mountain far more meaningful afterwards. If you only have two hours at Montserrat, prioritise the basilica instead.
Is the Audiovisual Space the same as the Museum of Montserrat?
No. They are two separate attractions with separate tickets. The Audiovisual Space is an immersive, screen-based exhibition about Montserrat itself; the Museum of Montserrat holds an art collection with works by El Greco, Caravaggio, Monet, Picasso and Dalí.
What languages is the Montserrat Audiovisual Space available in?
Twelve: Catalan, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Polish, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Portuguese. No guide or headset is needed — you follow the panels and screens at your own pace.
How much does the Montserrat Audiovisual Space cost?
€5.50 for adults, €4.00 for seniors and groups, and €3.00 for children ages 8 to 16. Keep in mind that admission is already included in several Montserrat combo tickets.
Do I need to book the Montserrat Audiovisual Space in advance?
No. There are no set entry times or online reservations. Tickets are purchased at the counter inside. Tours and combination tickets usually include admission to the audiovisual space.
Continue exploring Montserrat
If this guide helped you plan your visit, then it has done its job.
Sergio López Prieto · Local Montserrat Expert
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