Travel Photos Home Page		Europe 2016 Montserrat

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	From Barcelona I caught a train to Montserrat. Montserrat is a mountain range containing many peaks. The name, Montserrat, in Catalan means 'saw mountain'. From a distance, the peaks in the range resemble the jagged teeth of a saw.

	This is the cable car which carried me half-way up the mountain. There are two other ways of ascending to that mid-point. There is a rack railway as well as a road. I chose the cable car for its scenic advantage.

	In the cable car, on the way up!

	Halfway up the mountain we arrive at the Benedictine Abbey, Santa Maria de Montserrat.

	The main courtyard of the Abbey.

	From the Abbey, one can take the funicular to the higher levels of the mountain range. It is also possible to walk up to that higher level along rugged paths, but I wisely chose to go up by funicular and later walk back down to the Abbey. Going downhill, I did meet quite a few brave and sweaty souls who walked up instead.

	The next two shots were taken looking down at the Abbey complex from the funicular as it ascended.

	After exiting the funicular, I decided to make my way to the highest point in Monterrat. Sant Jeroni (Saint Jerome) is the highest peak at 1236 meters above sea-level.

	This is the Cavall Bernat, popular with rock climbers. It is 1111 meters tall.

	Rock climbers on the Cavall Bernat.

	There seems to be a metal object, perhaps a sculpture, next to the climbers at the top.

	The track on the way to Sant Jeroni.

	These hardy wild flowers grow on tough soil high up the mountain.

	This is a view looking down on the other side of the mountain range.

	Pretty close to the top!

	The last flight of steps to the peak.

	To reward you for your efforts climbing to the top of Sant Jeroni, someone has kindly made a tiny Nativity Scene in a letter box.

	On the trail all the way back to the Benedictine Abbey.