2025-10 Barcelona, Montserrat, Vilanova i la Geltrú

My vacation in Barcelona and around. Montserrat from south, Vilanova i la Geltrú and the railway museum, Barcelona.

Maria Matějka

Road archeology under Montserrat. Most probably this is an older version of a road bypass around Olesa de Montserrat, currently being used as a parking for a local car dealer. There are lots of demolished buildings further to the left.
Road archeology under Montserrat. Most probably this is an older version of a road bypass around Olesa de Montserrat, currently being used as a parking for a local car dealer. There are lots of demolished buildings further to the left.
An abandoned-looking house, over the river.
An abandoned-looking house, over the river.
This piece of the old road has been used by the marking painters for training.
This piece of the old road has been used by the marking painters for training.
Drive straight.
Drive straight.
River under a rock, and a chimney. Catalonian industrial outskirts of Barcelona.
River under a rock, and a chimney. Catalonian industrial outskirts of Barcelona.
Foot path to Esparreguera through a green tunnel.
Foot path to Esparreguera through a green tunnel.
Esparreguera, st. Eulalia church. Seemingly roofless.
Esparreguera, st. Eulalia church. Seemingly roofless.
Montserrat from the southern side. Somewhere there is my goal.
Montserrat from the southern side. Somewhere there is my goal.
Olives, slowly ripening.
Olives, slowly ripening.
First half of my journey – from Esparreguera to Collbató, via a marked path.
First half of my journey – from Esparreguera to Collbató, via a marked path.
Path was significantly eroded. It seems that when it's raining, a lot of mud flows with the water.
Path was significantly eroded. It seems that when it's raining, a lot of mud flows with the water.
A little pseudo-cave made by erosion.
A little pseudo-cave made by erosion.
It looks like that a forest fire risk is high enough to put a fire hydrant here.
It looks like that a forest fire risk is high enough to put a fire hydrant here.
Peek-a-Montserrat!
Peek-a-Montserrat!
Just a footpath through a forest. Nothing to see here.
Just a footpath through a forest. Nothing to see here.
Walls in the forest are keeping the slope from landsliding.
Walls in the forest are keeping the slope from landsliding.
Pine cones
Pine cones
A pine cone. Wind was blowing, it was hard to focus.
A pine cone. Wind was blowing, it was hard to focus.
Is this wild rosemary?
Is this wild rosemary?
Looks like a bird nest but it's very little.
Looks like a bird nest but it's very little.
Strawberry tree. Nom nom!
Strawberry tree. Nom nom!
Slowly but surely closer to Montserrat.
Slowly but surely closer to Montserrat.
No, won't climb this.
No, won't climb this.
But the rock is pretty indeed.
But the rock is pretty indeed.
Ruins of a lime kiln.
Ruins of a lime kiln.
You may read a little about the lime kiln here … in Catalunyan and Spanish.
You may read a little about the lime kiln here … in Catalunyan and Spanish.
Lime calcination was done where I was standing.
Lime calcination was done where I was standing.
Death-steep stairs.
Death-steep stairs.
Look inside the lime kiln
Look inside the lime kiln
Wild rosemary was everywhere
Wild rosemary was everywhere
Probably another village lime kiln just nearby
Probably another village lime kiln just nearby
Look, a squirrel!
Look, a squirrel!
Narrow streets of Collbató.
Narrow streets of Collbató.
Meow?
Meow?
Meow!
Meow!
A little chrch under the rock
A little chrch under the rock
Pretty road with stability problems. Cars are banned here.
Pretty road with stability problems. Cars are banned here.
I climbed above the road, hoping to find a nice footpath. It wasn't there but the views were impresssive.
I climbed above the road, hoping to find a nice footpath. It wasn't there but the views were impresssive.
This looked like an archeology site.
This looked like an archeology site.
The road ends by a parking with a view.
The road ends by a parking with a view.
Continuation by stairs.
Continuation by stairs.
Think whether you are really able to make it. Yet, 150 minutes for mere 6 km? Huh!
Think whether you are really able to make it. Yet, 150 minutes for mere 6 km? Huh!
The safety net above the path is massive.
The safety net above the path is massive.
Caves closed today.
Caves closed today.
Footpath in some places more for goats than for people.
Footpath in some places more for goats than for people.
A spiky acorn.
A spiky acorn.
A grasshopper, 5 cm in length.
A grasshopper, 5 cm in length.
Views. And another strawberry tree.
Views. And another strawberry tree.
I would just sit down and enjoy the views.
I would just sit down and enjoy the views.
One could spend several hours just enjoying this scenery.
One could spend several hours just enjoying this scenery.
Say, isn't it gorgeous?
Say, isn't it gorgeous?
This climb awaits me.
This climb awaits me.
Something between stairs and a ramp.
Something between stairs and a ramp.
Maybe it was stairs but long long ago?
Maybe it was stairs but long long ago?
I'll repeat this trip because of these views. Really.
I'll repeat this trip because of these views. Really.
Far below me, you can see a road, a railroad and a valley station of a cable car.
Far below me, you can see a road, a railroad and a valley station of a cable car.
A sacred place built directly on the rock face.
A sacred place built directly on the rock face.
The monastery is slowly but surely showing up atop the rock.
The monastery is slowly but surely showing up atop the rock.
The mountain was casting long shadows into the surroundings.
The mountain was casting long shadows into the surroundings.
These stairs required special care.
These stairs required special care.
A sacred painting.
A sacred painting.
Cable car ascending from the opposite river bank up directly into the monastery.
Cable car ascending from the opposite river bank up directly into the monastery.
This building will eat the cable car.
This building will eat the cable car.
At the same time the cable car arrives to the village station.
At the same time the cable car arrives to the village station.
The monastery area is creatively built inbetween the rocks.
The monastery area is creatively built inbetween the rocks.
The funicular which could ascend me a little bit is out of service for an unspecified amount of time. Sad.
The funicular which could ascend me a little bit is out of service for an unspecified amount of time. Sad.
Down there is a path I walked up here. In the foreground, the cable car mast is surprisingly low, from this view.
Down there is a path I walked up here. In the foreground, the cable car mast is surprisingly low, from this view.
A cog railway rides uphill as well. That's why I met nobody in my direction. And only 5 people opposite.
A cog railway rides uphill as well. That's why I met nobody in my direction. And only 5 people opposite.
This is that broken funicular.
This is that broken funicular.
Rocks everywhere. Originally I wanted to explore the monastery but it was windy and cold and I was underdressed.
Rocks everywhere. Originally I wanted to explore the monastery but it was windy and cold and I was underdressed.
Quite many people were waiting for the cog railway.
Quite many people were waiting for the cog railway.
Glass insulators of the local railway.
Glass insulators of the local railway.
Local train (1000mm gauge, 1.5kV=) will bring me back to Barcelona.
Local train (1000mm gauge, 1.5kV=) will bring me back to Barcelona.
Meow.
Meow.
Double-decker class 450 as a local train to Vilanova i la Geltrú, line S2.
Double-decker class 450 as a local train to Vilanova i la Geltrú, line S2.
Barcelona, Estació de França. Historically important station, with express connections to France. Nowadays only suburban trains.
Barcelona, Estació de França. Historically important station, with express connections to France. Nowadays only suburban trains.
Hydraulic buffers in de França station
Hydraulic buffers in de França station
The whole station is on a curve and on top of that with two curved roofs.
The whole station is on a curve and on top of that with two curved roofs.
Unit probably class 448, totally missing any aerodynamics.
Unit probably class 448, totally missing any aerodynamics.
Station hall is impressive but for current number of waiting passengers it's totally oversized.
Station hall is impressive but for current number of waiting passengers it's totally oversized.
Parts of the station are rather disused and overgrown.
Parts of the station are rather disused and overgrown.
Platanus fruit stuck in a fence.
Platanus fruit stuck in a fence.
Portrait of probably the former uruguayan president José Mujica.
Portrait of probably the former uruguayan president José Mujica.
The whole wall just across de França station in Barcelona is well grafitied and I spent some time enjoying that art.
The whole wall just across de França station in Barcelona is well grafitied and I spent some time enjoying that art.
Some art pieces have very precise details.
Some art pieces have very precise details.
Spraying e.g. the facial hair must have taken unimaginably long time.
Spraying e.g. the facial hair must have taken unimaginably long time.
Station de França has been under reconstruction for the last 17 years.
Station de França has been under reconstruction for the last 17 years.
In the port, you may refuel both your car and boat.
In the port, you may refuel both your car and boat.
There were some sailboats on the sea.
There were some sailboats on the sea.
There were more of them.
There were more of them.
For a little while, four of them were at the same place.
For a little while, four of them were at the same place.
This is not a coal mine tower …
This is not a coal mine tower …
The seagull also thinks differently.
The seagull also thinks differently.
It's a station of a cable car over the port.
It's a station of a cable car over the port.
They have completely underground stations here. This is Barcelona Sants.
They have completely underground stations here. This is Barcelona Sants.
Half-abandoned bus station at Sants.
Half-abandoned bus station at Sants.
A long transfer corridor in the metro.
A long transfer corridor in the metro.
The so-called dachshund display over the doors seems to be electronical, not paper as in Prague.
The so-called dachshund display over the doors seems to be electronical, not paper as in Prague.
Luxurious stairs are of no interest to anybody. Escalators get more use.
Luxurious stairs are of no interest to anybody. Escalators get more use.
Track configuration in Bellvitge / Gornal station. The middle track is probably sometimes used to turn trains around or to store them for a while.
Track configuration in Bellvitge / Gornal station. The middle track is probably sometimes used to turn trains around or to store them for a while.
Colorful plattenbau houses, reminding me of Prague. Why is there a fence on the roof though?
Colorful plattenbau houses, reminding me of Prague. Why is there a fence on the roof though?
Local train in the opposite direction than I need, approaching Bellvitge / Gornal. Class 463 or 464, Civia.
Local train in the opposite direction than I need, approaching Bellvitge / Gornal. Class 463 or 464, Civia.
This train is not in service and rides through the station full 90 km/h.
This train is not in service and rides through the station full 90 km/h.
There is a church atop that hill. Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. A gigantic Jesus is standing on top of its roof, I wonder whether he is dizzy from that height. Captured through catenary.
There is a church atop that hill. Temple Expiatori del Sagrat Cor. A gigantic Jesus is standing on top of its roof, I wonder whether he is dizzy from that height. Captured through catenary.
Railway museum, Vilanova i la Geltrú. This looks like a gravel cleaner.
Railway museum, Vilanova i la Geltrú. This looks like a gravel cleaner.
A thematic sculpture in the railway museum.
A thematic sculpture in the railway museum.
A collection of steam locomotives.
A collection of steam locomotives.
Railway bus.
Railway bus.
Original diesel locos for the first Talgo units.
Original diesel locos for the first Talgo units.
enTODO
enTODO
Walking back from the railway museum along the coast and tracks. The right tunnel is the original one, the left one was added later.
Walking back from the railway museum along the coast and tracks. The right tunnel is the original one, the left one was added later.
The sea was photo-worthy.
The sea was photo-worthy.
Just enjoy the seafoam.
Just enjoy the seafoam.
Splash!
Splash!
Turn around, a train is riding by!
Turn around, a train is riding by!
The path went literally through a bush.
The path went literally through a bush.
Ideal trainspotting path.
Ideal trainspotting path.
And when no train went by, an airplane was flying. What should i want more?
And when no train went by, an airplane was flying. What should i want more?
Fresh air, scattered clouds …
Fresh air, scattered clouds …
… and a view of a train entering a tunnel.
… and a view of a train entering a tunnel.
… what could I want more? A magpie!
… what could I want more? A magpie!
… and parrots, specifically probably the monk parrot.
… and parrots, specifically probably the monk parrot.
At the terminus Avenida Tibidabo, there is only one track and the metro opens its doors on both sides.
At the terminus Avenida Tibidabo, there is only one track and the metro opens its doors on both sides.
No, it won't go any further.
No, it won't go any further.
Blue trams are out of service, replaced by a bus.
Blue trams are out of service, replaced by a bus.
Cars are parking at the tram terminus. The line is out of service for several years and the municipality has still not found money for renovation. The catenary is obviously intended for a pole collector, not a pantograph.
Cars are parking at the tram terminus. The line is out of service for several years and the municipality has still not found money for renovation. The catenary is obviously intended for a pole collector, not a pantograph.
The Tibidabo funicular infotainment was for whatever reason set to German.
The Tibidabo funicular infotainment was for whatever reason set to German.
This is the church captured earlier through catenary.
This is the church captured earlier through catenary.
Adjacent to the church is an amusement park.
Adjacent to the church is an amusement park.
Ornamental construction of an amusement suspended monorail.
Ornamental construction of an amusement suspended monorail.
View of Barcelona. What is behind the tree?
View of Barcelona. What is behind the tree?
TV tower also up there at Tibidabo.
TV tower also up there at Tibidabo.
The tram catenary has definitely seen better times.
The tram catenary has definitely seen better times.
Tram shed. When going up, I spotted an open gate (and a tram!), but when returning back, the whole place was deserted.
Tram shed. When going up, I spotted an open gate (and a tram!), but when returning back, the whole place was deserted.