Visit Pilgrim Sanctuary of Lluc Majorca Spain
Stay at Lluc Monastic Retreat on Spanish Island of Majorca
May 15, 2009
Thousands of people travel to the monastic Sanctuary of Lluc every year, yet despite this enormous number it is also a place of tranquility where travellers can take time out to enjoy a period of quiet amongst the grandeur of nature.
Sanctuary of Lluc History and Landscape
The Sanctuary of Lluc dates from the 17th century, but has had a strong Christian presence since the thirteenth century. Before then the area was a centre of animistic worship. The area has rocks, trees, hidden groves and caves and the old pilgrim path. There is a prehistoric site dating from the 4th century BC and a Megalithic monument. Lluc is a sacred place – the word ‘Lluc’, from the Latin word ‘lucus’, meaning ‘sacred wood’
The road to Lluc winds up from Soller and Pollenca through a landscape of terraced allotments and wooded slopes, to a height of 500 metres above sea level. The monastery dominates a natural basin surrounded by majestic peaks. Its imposing exterior is softened by the lush greenery of the valley, the elms and ancient oaks.
Despite its remote situation the Sanctuary exudes life. It is a welcome respite for walkers, those driving through the mountains, bus passengers, cyclists, campers and tourists. You can book a bed for the night – although in the busy season it is best to book ahead. You may be allocated a room in the hostelry or the old converted stables. Rooms are simple – a desk, a bed, a bathroom, tiled floors.
Lluc Boys’ Choir and the Virgin of Lluc
Each morning you can make your way to the ornate, Baroque church for Mass and hear the famous Lluc boys’ choir, nicknamed ‘The Blues’ because of their distinctive blue cassocks.
At the back of the church a small chapel holds the Virgin of Lluc or La Moreneta (‘the Dark-Skinned One’). This beautiful stone-carved statue is 61cm high and is said to have been discovered by a shepherd boy in the 15th century.
Way of the Mysteries of the Rosary – Lluc’s Pilgrim Footpath
There is a pilgrims’ footpath, The Cami dels Misteris del Rosari (Way of the Mysteries of the Rosary), which winds up the hillside behind the monastery and is punctuated at intervals by rough granite stations with bronze statues by Llimona and others. You could complete this walk in ten minutes, but the experience is so delightful that an hour or two can easily slip by. The summit views over the Albarca valley are breathtaking.
Other Amenities to Enjoy at Lluc
- If you choose you can stroll down into the valley itself. This is fine walking country and there is an excellent walking/leisure information point on site.
- Alternatively, take a stroll around the Lluc Museum, with its archaeological finds, medieval religious paintings, majolica (tin-glazed earthenware), and contemporary paintings.
- As well as nourishment for the soul, Lluc provides bodily sustenance. There is a beautifully restored cloister which is now a restaurant serving traditional Spanish food. There are open air stoves and tables for outdoor meals, as well as coffee bars and a modest grocery store.
- There are Botanical Gardens to explore.
- The evenings, when the tour buses have departed and twilight descends, are magical times for quiet contemplation.
In his book The Pilgrims’ Hymn (1883) the poet Costa I Llobera wrote, “Mallorca guards a treasure inside the heart of her mountains”. How right he was.
Source: Lluc: Words and Image (Postales Colour Cyp, 1987)
Website:Monastery of Lluc
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- Pope Benedict to Visit Britain - explains what is known so far about the visit of the Pope to Britain.
- Was Oscar Wilde a Catholic? - Wilde has been going through a process of acceptance by the Catholic Church. This article explores the theory that he died a Catholic.
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