The Santuari de Santa Maria de Lluch

The legend

After the conquest of Mallorca (1229), a shepherd boy and a monk who lived in the forest of Lluc discovered the stone image of the Virgin Mary. She appeared at the top of the small mound next to the sanctuary called ‘Pujol de la Trobada’. They picked her up and took her to the parish church in the municipality of Escorca. Miraculously, the Holy Figure disappeared from the place where it had been taken, only to reappear at the site of its first manifestation. Legend has it that this event was repeated up to three times, until everyone understood that the Virgin's will was to remain in the same place of the miraculous apparition. The locals then decided to build a chapel in her honour, the seed of the current sanctuary of Santa Maria de Lluc. The Mallorcans come here to venerate their patron saint and it is visited by millions of people from all five continents. The growing devotion made it possible, in 1884, for the Marian effigy to be crowned. This concession was authorised by Pope Leo XIII.

The history

The first place of worship of the Virgin of Lluc was intended to be a small hermitage with a small shelter where pilgrims could take refuge from the rigours of the Tramuntana mountain range. This portico was built with the authorisation of the commander of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem in 1317. The hospice as such did not become fully operational until the 20th century; until then, there were only a few small, very simple rooms where pilgrims could gather. In 1456 the collegiate church of the sanctuary of Lluc was founded, which is world famous for its choir of choirboys. They have the task of singing daily to Our Lady of Lluc on behalf of the Mallorcan people. The foundation stone of the later basilica was laid in 1622. In the mid-20th century, the missionaries of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary created the present-day museum with their private collections and other donations. The Lluc sanctuary has always been considered a unique place in Mallorca in terms of spirituality: ‘Lucus’ means ‘holy place’. A place of faith, culture and nature where everyone can find what they need. That is why our house has become your home.