Luján (pronounced ) is a city in the

Buenos Aires province Buenos Aires, officially the Buenos Aires Province, is the largest and most populous Provinces of Argentina, Argentine province. It takes its name from the city of Buenos Aires, the capital of the country, which used to be part of the province an ...

Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic, is a country in the southern half of South America. It covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest country in South America after Brazil, the fourt ...

, located northwest of the city of

Buenos Aires Buenos Aires, controlled by the government of the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Argentina. It is located on the southwest of the Río de la Plata. Buenos Aires is classified as an Alpha− glob ...

. The city was founded in 1755 and has a population of 106,899 (per the ). Basilica of Lujan

Luján is best known for its large, neo-gothic

Basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

, built in honor of the Virgin of Luján, the patron saint of Argentina. Every year, more than six million people make pilgrimages to the basilica, many walking there from Buenos Aires. The city is known as ''La Capital de la Fe'' (Capital of the Faith). It is a popular day-trip for non-believers too, with abundant grill restaurants (like most places in Argentina) and souvenir shops with kitsch religious memorabilia. The church was designed by the French architect Ulderico Courtois and started in 1889, completed by 1937. Its towers stand high, and it has a copper roof and bronze doors. The huge church towers over the surrounding flat country and houses the tiny high statue of the Virgin. A large and important organ by French builder Cavaille-Coll stands in the gallery in a state of deterioration, although efforts are underway to see to its restoration.Ezequiel Martin Menendez, ''Historic Pipe Organs in Argentina: A Hidden Treasure'' (DMA diss., Boston University, 2006), chap. 7.) Luján is also home to the Enrique Udaondo museum complex, housing exhibitions of colonial life in the house of the

Viceroy A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the Anglo-Norman ''roy'' (Old Frenc ...

and old town hall, with art, uniforms, silverware and transport with many antique vehicles including Plus Ultra the first hydroplane to cross from Europe to Argentina and '' La Porteña'', Argentina's first steam locomotive operated by Ferrocarril Oeste. Also on display are the prison cells where Colonel William Carr Beresford, commander of the 1806 British invading forces, and General Cornelio Saavedra, president of the first national government (

Primera Junta The Primera Junta ("First Junta") or ''Junta Provisional Gubernativa de las Provincias del Río de la Plata'' ("Provisional Governing Junta of the Provinces of the Río de la Plata"), is the most common name given to the first government of what ...

) in 1810, were held. Since 1987,

Benedictine The Benedictines, officially the Order of Saint Benedict (, abbreviated as O.S.B. or OSB), are a mainly contemplative monastic order of the Catholic Church for men and for women who follow the Rule of Saint Benedict. Initiated in 529, th ...

monk A monk (; from , ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a man who is a member of a religious order and lives in a monastery. A monk usually lives his life in prayer and contemplation. The concept is ancient and can be seen in many reli ...

s of the Cono-Sur Congregation have resided at Abadía de San Benito on the outskirts of Luján. In addition to providing retreat facilities for the residents of the city, the monks support themselves by means of agriculture and publishing. The nearby city of Mercedes is seat of the Bishop of Mercedes and Luján. Luján is the principal settlement of the Lujan Partido or municipality. The city has a railway and bus station and is easily reached from Buenos Aires.

References

External links

Municipality of Luján
- Official website. *
Activities ,Directory and much morePortal of the cityUniversidad Nacional de LujánGenealogía de Luján
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lujan, Buenos Aires Province Cities in Argentina Populated places in Buenos Aires Province Populated places established in 1755 1750s establishments in the Viceroyalty of Peru 1755 establishments in South America Catholic pilgrimage sites