Montserrat, the mountain of unmistakable silhouette, is not only a spiritual and cultural reference of Catalonia. At nightfall every 11th, its rocky contours become the scene of a peculiar modern liturgy: the search for unidentified flying objects. Dozens of ufology enthusiasts, convinced believers and the curious congregate in the hope of witnessing something extraordinary.
The starting point of this unique pilgrimage is the Hotel Bruc, an establishment that is already part of the mythology of the place, and has been featured in series such as The Messiah.
“I’ve seen UFOs up there”.
In its cafeteria, conversations revolve around past sightings and theories about extraterrestrial life. “I’ve seen UFOs up there, that’s why I always come on the 11th,” says with conviction one of the veteran attendees, who claims to have been contacted years ago by beings who warned her of “very fat things like COVID.”
The atmosphere in Montserrat is, as one of the participants describes, that of “a mountain with a lot of energy”. This feeling, shared by many, creates an atmosphere very conducive to believing that you may have seen something. It is a mixture of suggestion and faith that feeds the expectations of the night.
Among the attendees, opinions are diverse. There are those, like one young man among those interviewed, who firmly believe that “there are a few extraterrestrial races living here on Earth.” Others imagine these beings as a person, “like you and me”.
There is no lack of skeptical counterpoints. Like the one who comes moved by a “healthy curiosity” and argues from a more rational perspective: “I don’t think anyone has come from another planet yet”.
For him, the idea of humanoid extraterrestrials responds to “a very anthropocentric vision”. Despite his skepticism, he values the experience positively: “It’s fun to see the conversations, what people who have been coming for a thousand years explain”.
As the night progresses, the groups ascend to a lookout point, a “U.F.O. ZONE” improvised according to a graffiti on a rock. Equipped with folding chairs, drinks and their eyes fixed on the firmament, they wait for the signal.
“We saw a light come out of a peak.”
One man recounts a paranormal experience: “We saw a light come out of a peak. It silently plummeted down. And that was in milliseconds. My partner saw it and we were both amazed.”
Far from the stereotype, the atmosphere is one of normality and good vibes. It is an outdoor social gathering, a “big picnic,” as one of the interviewees describes it, where stories are shared and the evening is enjoyed.
In the end, the question of what they would do if “those in green” finally showed up gets mixed responses. “Let them take me to see what’s out there,” replies one woman with a chuckle, quickly adding that she wants a “return trip, of course.”
Believer or skeptic, fan of the UFO phenomenon or simply someone looking for a different plan, the night of the 11th in Montserrat becomes a canvas for the imagination and the hope of not being alone in the universe.