The Meritxell sanctuary, a place of pilgrimage for all Europeans

Towards the end of the 12th century, during the Feast of the Three Kings, the inhabitants of the village of Meritxell travelled to Canillo to attend mass. On the way, they came across a rosehip in flower, with green leaves (curious in the middle of winter). At the foot of the tree, an image of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus was discovered. The image was then placed in the church in Canillo. But the next day, the picture was no longer where it should be. As if by magic, it was once again found under the dog rose in Meritxell.

A change of plan for the astonished locals... They decided to take it to the church in Encamp instead. But, for the second time, the image disappeared and then slipped under the rosebush. The villagers of Meritxell interpreted this curious little phenomenon as a sign from heaven. This time, they built a new church next to the rosehip to house the picture. Today, the rosehip continues to flourish, as does the Andorrans' devotion to the Virgin, who they named the Patron Saint of the Valleys. Curiously, this photo has never been found since the church was built.

The feast of Nostra Senyora de Meritxell, patron saint of the valleys of Andorra, is now celebrated on 8 September. This religious site comprises two very distinct buildings: the old sanctuary and the new sanctuary. The latter has been designated a "property of cultural interest" under Law 9/2003 of 12 June on Andorra's Cultural Heritage. In 2014, Pope Francis granted the Sanctuary the title of Minor Basilica as a tribute to its liturgical life, its religious work, its history and its unique cultural activity.

Unfortunately, the original chapel dedicated to Sainte Marie no longer exists. The building was erected in the second half of the 12th century. Around 1658, the church was adorned with murals by the painter Josep Oromi. On the night of 8-9 September 1972, a fire destroyed the entire building. The ruins were restored in 1994, along with the chapel of Santa Maria. Today, the site serves as a permanent exhibition hall dedicated to the memory of Meritxell.

The exhibition tells the story of the village, starting with the rose hip in flower, the protagonist of the story, right through to the fire and reconstruction. The room also features a number of display panels explaining the history of the village and the patronage. A number of items that survived the fire are also on display.

As well as its religious character, the Meritxell sanctuary also represents typical Andorran architecture at the end of the 20th century. In addition, several works by the famous Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill enrich the walls. This brand-new sanctuary has both a cultural and a religious face.

Inside, the central building features a nave in the shape of a deformed Greek cross, an apse and a barrel vault. In the details, the Virgin is accompanied by seven patron saints, carved in wood by Andorran artist Sergi Mas, and scattered around the church. They represent the seven parishes of Andorra.

The church itself is of original construction, dating from the Romanesque period and then transformed during the Baroque period. Some remains can be seen, such as the foundations of the apse, discovered in 1991. The interior walls are decorated with paintings evoking religious stories.