News

Today we invite you on a virtual tour of the Mare de Déu del Mont sanctuary, located on a mountaintop near the medieval town of Besalu. From here, from a height of 1.100 meters, open a stunning panoramic views of almost the entire province of Girona, the Pyrenees and even (in good clear weather) the sea!
The church owes its origin to the nearby monastery of Sant Llorenç de Sous, which first appeared in local chronicles in 871. The very same church Mare de Déu del Mont was built in 1311 and recently celebrated its 700th anniversary. Climbing to the top of the rock, one could at least a little, but approach heaven in prayer, which is why pilgrims flocked here from all over the Christian world. In 1539, Pope Clement VII granted 100 days of forgiveness to all pilgrims who would visit the Mare de Déu del Mont at Christmas, the Annunciation, Ascension, Easter and Saint John’s Day.

Read more

We invite you today for a virtual walk to the monastery of Sant Llorenç del Munt, which is located in the eponymous and very picturesque natural park Sant Llorenç del Munt i l’Obac northwest of Barcelona.

Here, on the top of La Mola mountain, at an altitude of 1.103 meters, already in the 10th century, the diligent hands of the Catalan believers erected the first church, which was later reformed into a Benedictine monastery. In those early days, the surrounding valleys were often attacked by the Saracens. These warlike, but lazy people decided that it was easier to plunder and burn the villages located at the foot of the mountain, instead of exhausting themselves with a tedious climb. So the monastery safely survived those troubled times. However, the energetic and inquisitive soldiers of Napoleon still managed to get up here, and, out of annoyance or fatigue (or maybe they just didn’t like the monastery wine), they demolished the monastery buildings almost to the very foundation.

Fortunately, the world is not without kind people, and the monastery was restored at the end of the 19th century, and since 1931 it was declared a national monument.

The ascent to the monastery takes from 1.5 hours, depending on the level of your athletic training, but the views from the top of the mountain are absolutely stunning! Well, you can replenish your strength after an excellent walk in the La Mola restaurant, which is located right in the building of the monastery. An interesting fact – all the products for this restaurant are delivered along a mountain path by hardworking Catalan donkeys!

Read more

Read more

Read more