LLUC SANTUARY

LLUC

SANCTUARY

 

Lluc Sanctuary

You have come to Lluc the sacred forest of Prehistory and the first Sanctuary on the island that was dedicated to the Virgin Mary, dating back to the 13th Century.

Lluc Monastery is the spiritual center of Mallorca, where he is revered the fourteenth century Gothic image of the patron saint of Mallorca, the Virgin of Lluc. The sanctuary is located in the north of Mallorca, in a valley of the Sierra de Tramuntana, over 500 meters high, surrounded by mountains.

The history of the monastery dates back to 1230, when the pastor found here Lluc "the moreneta", a statue of the virgin who is venerated as patron saint of Mallorca.

Lluc name comes from the Latin lucus, meaning sacred forest, which suggests that in ancient times in the same place must have been a pagan shrine.

Immediately after the Christian conquest of Mallorca in 1246 and was aware of a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary here. While the current sanctuary, Renaissance style, dates from the seventeenth century.

One of the most important parts of Lluc is the choir school. The choir boys and girls are known as the blauets in reference to their blue cassocks (blau means blue in Catalan).
The origins of the choir can be traced back to the 13th century, but the choir school itself was established in the 16th century, with six boys who would sing in praise of the Mother of God in the name of all Mallorca, which was already the custom at Montserrat on the mainland. Currently there are around forty boys and girls who study at Lluc, either as boarders or as day pupils. They sing the salve each day, in the morning and evening, and also perform on Sundays and at special masses. Their performances during Easter week are well known, and at Christmas one of the blauets sings the Cant de la Sibil.la, a Medieval prophecy of the end of the World that has been declared part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

MAP OF LLUC SANCTUARY

Activities that you can do in Lluc.

Walking and cycling:

The Sanctuary of Lluc is the perfect place from which to set out and explore the Tramuntana Mountains, either on foot or on a bicycle.

Close to the Sanctuary you will find some of the best know peaks on the island such as the Puig de Massanella, the Puig de Tomir, the Puig d'en Galileu and the Puig Roig, all of which will delight those who love heights.
There are also a number of caves and torrents (dry river beds) nearby including the well know Torrent de Parais and the Torrent de Mortitx.
Another enjoyable way to explore the surroundings is by following one of the old pilgrim trails that link Lluc with Inca and Pollensa.


The first Saturday in August, "Sa Marxa Lluc a peu", a popular pilgrimage from Palma to Lluc (48 km) in which thousands of people participate is made.

GASTRONOMY IN LLUC

It is said that at Lluc you can eat the best lamb in the mountains and drink the purest water. Here you will find something for all tastes and budgets: a simple sandwich, a barbecue, a huge paella in the recreation area of Ca s'Amitger or the Centenary Meeting Place, or a set menu or a la carte in one of our restaurants.