Maritxell Sanctuary / Ricardo Bofill

Architects: Ricardo Bofill
Year: 1978
Photography: Courtesy of Ricardo Bofill, Lluis Carbonell
City: Canillo
Country: Andorra

Santuario de Meritxell, or Maritxell Sanctuary, a religious building designed by Ricardo Bofill in Canillo, Andorra, was rebuilt after a fire in 1972. Integrating modern techniques with historical Romanesque imagery, the sanctuary is a key cultural and spiritual site, housing the image of Our Lady of Meritxell, Andorra’s patron saint. Completed in 1978, it continues to attract visitors for its art, architecture, and natural surroundings.

Andorra, a small principality in the Pyrenees, has transformed from pastoral tranquility to a commercial tourist attraction, experiencing rapid population growth and economic development. The Santuario de Meritxell or Maritxell Sanctuary, designed by Ricardo Bofill, stands as a testament to this change.

On the evening of a popular holiday in 1972, the ancient Romanesque Sanctuary was destroyed by fire, leaving only the original apse, altar vaulting, and later-day bell tower intact. The rebuilding effort could not merely restore the fallen stones but also needed to reflect the local architectural character and landscape. The project aimed to continue the historical Romanesque imagery while incorporating modern building techniques, acting as a counter to environmental degradation and promoting a way of building in Andorra rooted in its past.

The project consists of two main elements: the viaduct bridge and the Sanctuary. Other symbolically significant features include a concave amphitheater, giant steps, a road bridge, climbing towers, vaulting arches, an esplanade, a convex theater, a gushing fountain, a sculpted colonnade, and a ride through the forest. The Sanctuary, with its dependencies, showcases unfinished arches poised over the valley, hinting at future connections with the bridge.

Inspired by original Romanesque sources, the project also drew from Albertian and Palladian neopythagorean principles, incorporating Catalan-Mudejar elements. The project drawings relate the plan, section, and façade through a harmonic scheme based on symbolic numerology and site-specific measurements. The building, a continuation of Romanesque forms, integrates seamlessly with the black mountain and mythical vegetation, resembling a small hamlet while acknowledging its unique scale.

The Sanctuary’s surroundings were designed in a separate, later project, including paved surfaces, walkways, balustrades, steps, ramps, parking, and landscaping with re-planting of the surrounding countryside. The old, derelict buildings were remodeled and modernized to serve as support dependencies.

The Sanctuary of Meritxell Basilica, the most important religious temple in Andorra, is located in the parish of Canillo. It houses the image of Our Lady of Meritxell, a polychrome statue based on the original Romanesque work destroyed in the 1972 fire. The Basilica also features statues of other Andorran saints, created by sculptor Sergi Mas.

In 2014, Pope Francis granted the temple the title of a minor basilica, the only such place of worship in Andorra. The Basilica is part of the Marian Route, connecting it with sanctuaries in Spain and France. Ricardo Bofill’s design is a “recreation of the Romanesque” style, integrating slate and luminous white, symbolizing snow, and reflecting Italian Renaissance architecture.

The former sanctuary was rehabilitated into Meritxell Memoria, an exhibition hall showcasing the history and cult of Meritxell. Notable for its open cloister with uncovered archways and a central fountain, the Basilica combines elements of Islamic art with Catalan Romanesque imagery. The interior remains austere, except for a stained glass window revealing the meaning of “Meritxell.”

The Basilica’s location in a sheltered valley in Canillo enhances its solemnity and tranquility. Accessible by car or Andorran Tourist Bus, the sanctuary offers guided tours and a nature route leading to the Meritxell Oratories and the village of Prats. The Basilica Sanctuary of Meritxell has become a key attraction for tourists interested in Andorran culture and traditions.