Basilica of Our Lady of Luján

Opening hours and Mass times

The Basilica is at San Martín 51, facing the main square, and is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

• Mass Monday to Saturday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Mass on Sundays: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• Rosary: every day at 6 p.m.

Mass times are published by the Shrine and may change on special dates, such as the pilgrimages or the Pope’s Mass on November 11. Before you travel, check them on the Shrine’s website (in Spanish). Baptisms, confessions and blessings are arranged there too.

History and architecture

It is a neo-Gothic church with a Latin-cross floor plan and four towers. The project was driven by Father Jorge María Salvaire and led by architect Ulrico Courtois. The cornerstone was laid in 1887, construction began on May 6, 1890, the church was inaugurated and blessed on December 4, 1910, and the towers were completed in 1935.

Its two main towers are 106 meters tall. Since November 15, 1930 it has been a minor basilica, and in 1998 it was declared a National Historic Monument (Decree 283/1998).

Our Lady of Luján

According to tradition, in May 1630 an oxcart carrying two images of the Virgin brought from Brazil stopped near the Luján River and could only move on once one of the boxes was taken down. That image, made of terracotta and about 38 centimeters tall, stayed there, and for years it was cared for by an enslaved man named Manuel.

It was crowned in 1887. Our Lady of Luján is the patron saint of Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay, and her feast day is May 8.

Getting there and parking

Luján is about 68 kilometers west of the City of Buenos Aires. You can get there by car on the Acceso Oeste highway (RN 7), on the Sarmiento train line or on bus line 57: every option, step by step, in how to get to Luján.

To leave your car, van or coach, see the parking areas near the Basilica, and the shuttles to the Basilica if you park farther away. The map of Luján shows every place with its distance.

What’s nearby

A few blocks away is the Enrique Udaondo Museum Complex, with the Cabildo and the Viceroy’s House, and the riverside promenade along the Luján River. More ideas in things to do in Luján, and for food, in where to eat near the Basilica.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Basilica of Luján open?

It is open every day from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the Shrine. Hours may change on special dates, so check santuariodelujan.org.ar before you travel.

What are the Mass times at the Basilica of Luján?

Monday to Saturday: 8 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Sundays: 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The Rosary is prayed every day at 6 p.m.

How tall are the towers of the Basilica of Luján?

The two main towers are 106 meters tall.

When was the Basilica of Luján built?

The cornerstone was laid in 1887, construction began in 1890, the church was inaugurated in 1910 and the towers were completed in 1935.

Where is the Basilica of Luján?

At San Martín 51, in the center of Luján, Buenos Aires province, about 68 km west of the City of Buenos Aires.

Which countries is Our Lady of Luján the patron saint of?

Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay. Her feast day is May 8.