The traditions are an essential part of the Andorran cultural legacy, where the country's rich history and heritage are visible and accessible as in few other places in the world.
The Sanctuary of Canòlich is located on the CS-600 (42.47457, 1.45241), surrounded by a great natural environment at an altitude of 1635 metres, highly valued by cyclists and mountain enthusiasts, with the Coll de la Gallina as an outstanding point of interest. It is an imposing panoramic viewpoint that allows us to enjoy views over a large part of the parish of Sant Julià de Lòria, the village of Aixovall, the mountains of Andorra, as well as numerous peaks of the Catalan Pyrenees.
It is a modern church constructed at the end of the 20th century on the site of a Romanesque-style building whose existence dates back to medieval times (1176), a fact that is recorded in the archives of the Comptes de Foix.
Its restoration was carried out in the 1970s, specifically between 1973 and 1979, and it houses a reproduction of the original image of the Virgin which, despite the destruction of documentation in a fire in the 17th century, would certify its antiquity towards the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century. Thanks to a contribution from the Marfany family and with the aim of providing greater access to its devotees, the original image was transferred to the parish church of Sant Julià and Sant Germán, where it has been kept by the family ever since.
According to the tradition, the image was found there by a shepherd guided there by an insistent bird, giving rise to the most important epicentre of worship since then for the inhabitants of Sant Julià de Lòria and believers in the Virgin.
As a result, this emblematic point of faith has since ancient times been the place where the Lauredian people worship their patron saint, the Virgin of Canòlich, through a multitudinous annual gathering that takes place on the last Saturday in May called the "Canòlich gathering" or "L'Aplec de Canòlich".
The aim of the event is venerate the Virgin with a pilgrimage to walk. that lasts approximately two hours along a path that starts in the picturesque village of Bixessarri, through bends that pass through forests and offer postcards at each stretch, and invites us to share a moment in community with religious celebrations and the collection of blessed bread.
In the interior, the sanctuary conserves an 18th century Baroque altarpiece, surrounded by a stone arch and ceramic murals by the artist Sergi Mas, which can be seen on the sides of the rectangular, well-lit enclosure. Outside, the church is crowned by a belfry bell tower and a barbecue area that welcomes visitors, especially during religious celebrations.
The Sanctuary has a parking area for those visitors who wish to come at any time of the year and multiple panoramic points in the surrounding area that not only allow visitors to take incredible photographs, but also give them the chance to contemplate the nature that surrounds this place declared a Site of Cultural Interest by the Government of Andorra, and an epicentre of faith for the local community.
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