Santuari de Lluc is a monastery and pilgrimage site in the municipality of Escorca, in north-west Mallorca. It stands in a basin at 525 metres, ringed by high peaks of the Serra de Tramuntana such as the Puig de Massanella. It was founded in the 13th century on the spot where, by tradition, a Moorish shepherd found a statue of the Virgin Mary. Lluc is the island's most important place of pilgrimage and home to Els Blauets, a boys' choir founded in 1531.
Santuari de Lluc
13th-century monastery and pilgrimage shrine in a mountain basin of the Serra de Tramuntana, home of the Els Blauets choir.
- Entrance
- The museum charges €8.
- Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible parking and a wheelchair-accessible entrance.
- Parking
- Large paid car park just outside, about 280 m away; ticket €8. Hotel guests pay €4 at reception for a pass with unlimited in-and-out.
- Difficulty
- None: the car park is about 280 m away, a five-minute walk to the buildings.
- Transport
- Bus stop Lluc, about 136 m away.
- Address
- Santuari des Lluc, Plaça dels Pelegrins, 1, 07315 Lluc i Son Macip, Illes Balears, Spain
What makes it special
Late in the day, once the day crowds have gone, the sanctuary goes quiet and the mountains close in around it. Lluc sits in a basin at 525 metres with peaks such as the Puig de Massanella standing over the buildings, and it is still a place people walk to: on the first weekend of August a night pilgrimage sets out from Palma at 23:00 and walks all the way here.
The basilica holds the statue of the Virgin that, by tradition, a Moorish shepherd found on this spot in the 13th century. Els Blauets, the boys' choir named after their blue cassocks, has sung here since 1531 and gives regular concerts. The museum traces Mallorca's past back to prehistoric times, and behind the buildings a botanical garden trail carries a small exhibition on the island's mountain environment.
Good to know
- Rooms in the former monks' cells have fans but no air conditioning, and summer nights in them run hot; the windows have no insect screens.
- The swimming pool is a five-minute walk from the rooms. Bring your own towels.
- Restaurants, bars and a souvenir shop are on site, with free toilets and drinking water close to the main buildings.
- The road up to Lluc is a mountain road popular with cyclists. Drive it with care.
- Lluc is a common starting point for walks in the Serra de Tramuntana, and the Espai Benvingut a Lluc information office is on site.
Getting there
A car is the easy way to reach Lluc. A large paid car park sits just outside the sanctuary, about 280 m away, and the walk across to the buildings takes about five minutes. Hotel guests check in first, then drive round to a side entrance to unload bags before leaving the car in the main car park on a pass from reception.
The Lluc bus stop is about 136 m away. Close by stand the Espai Benvingut a Lluc information office and a Camina per Mallorca route map, useful if you are setting off on foot into the mountains.
Best time to visit
Best: late afternoon and evening, or an overnight stay. Avoid: the middle of the day in high summer, when day visitors fill the sanctuary. Once the day crowds leave, Lluc turns quiet and the basin holds the evening light. On the first weekend of August the night pilgrimage from Palma brings walkers in, so plan around it in whichever direction suits you.
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Frequently asked questions
Can you stay overnight at Santuari de Lluc?
Yes. The former monks' cells are let to visitors as rooms. They are basic, with fans and no air conditioning, and breakfast is a continental spread.Is there parking at Lluc?
Yes, a large paid car park just outside the sanctuary, about a five-minute walk from the buildings. Hotel guests buy a pass at reception that allows unlimited coming and going.Who are Els Blauets?
The sanctuary's boys' choir, founded in 1531 and named after the blue cassocks the boys wear. It gives regular concerts and has an international reputation.Is Lluc a good base for walking?
Yes. It sits centrally in the Serra de Tramuntana and is often used as a starting point for walks, with a Camina per Mallorca route map close to the buildings.What is the night walk to Lluc?
Every year on the first weekend of August, pilgrims walk through the night from Palma to the sanctuary. The walk sets off at 23:00 from Plaça Güell in Palma.