Exhibition Marks 50 Years of Andorra's Santuari de Meritxell Basilica Rebuild

A fire on 8 September 1972 razed the original Romanesque Santuari de Meritxell, paving the way for its reconstruction as a modern national landmark, inaugurated in 1976 by architect Ricardo Bofill.

The Consell General has launched an exhibition, "El projecte arquitectònic del Santuari de Meritxell," in the cloister passageway to mark 50 years since work began on the current basilica. Drawing from curator Enric Dilmé's doctoral research, it showcases rare plans, letters, minutes and photographs that chart the site's development.

Dilmé explains that 1971 expansion proposals, initially granted to Perpignan architects, were shelved after the fire and a leadership shift from syndic Francesc Escudé to Reig. Authorities then turned to Bofill, Spain's leading international architect at the time. His striking modern design, far removed from the modest original, ignited debate amid political friction with Reig's government.

Collaborator Antoni Pol i Solé described the post-fire rush: the sanctuary held deep national and spiritual resonance, and its loss left a void. He justified the daring style, saying architecture that stirs discussion and defies norms leaves a lasting mark. Bofill wove in local stone and terrain, merging innovation with Andorran heritage and elevating nature's place in the sacred.

Mossèn Ramon recounted Escudé's reassurance after the blaze—that the Virgin Mary sought a renewed home, transforming ashes into radiance. He hailed the outcome as a faithful yet exalted embodiment of the past, now a global beacon of symbolism, faith and design.

Inaugurating the display, General Syndic Carles Ensenyat pointed to the Consell General's prior enlargement assessments and dubbed the basilica Andorra's pioneering modern structure, with its records essential for shared appreciation.

An El Periòdic editorial framed the anniversary as a prompt to reflect on the site's role in Andorra—bridging religious roots and national identity, debate and acceptance. It urged passing this legacy to future generations, turning loss into enduring renewal.

Dilmé and Pol i Solé underscored the design's timeless reinterpretation of classic forms through regional motifs, distinguishing it in Bofill's oeuvre.

The show charts the transition from humble chapel to bold contemporary edifice and continues through December, potentially longer depending on attendance. Early concepts, such as a peak-to-peak mountaintop connection, were never built.