Luján, Argentina

Distance from Capital Federal: 69 kilometers

Luján is a city of Buenos Aires; it is a pilgrimage center. Its Basilica is the most important spiritual place of Argentina. It is venue of an important historic museum and it possesses recreational areas. It presents an elevated agricultural potential, as well as a strong food and manufacturing industry too.
Walking the streets of Lujan is really exciting, mainly for people who practice historic and religious tourism, since this place represents a historic, architectural and religious richness. Many visitors go to the pilgrimages.

How is it possible to arrive?

The city has a Bus Station that is located in The Nuestra Señora de Luján and Almirante Brown Avenues. There, many bus companies depart and arrive to/from different destinations in Argentina and bordering countries.

Luján has a train station that is situated in The España Avenue and Lorenzo Casey, near The Basilica of Luján and its historic zone. The Train Company of Buenos Aires (TBA) offers services from Buenos Aires; by taking this service, you will arrive to Luján in two hours.

The most cultural ceremony of Argentina is carried out the last Sunday of September. Other very crowded pilgrimage is destined to young people, it takes place the first Sunday of October; it is estimated that one million of young people go there. The Virgin’s Day is celebrated on May.

Events

The most cultural ceremony of Argentina is carried out the last Sunday of September. Other very crowded pilgrimage is destined to young people, it takes place the first Sunday of October; it is estimated that one million of young people go there. The Virgin’s Day is celebrated on May.

Colonial Easter

Luján and its Basilica concentrate religion, history and tradition into an interesting artist program prepared for Holy week.

Easter Sunday. Judas burning

This is an attractive recreation of a typical celebration of the “virreinal” epoch. Year after year, a colorful parade of "cabezudos" and the Judas burning (gigantic image) took place followed by fireworks and a great popular festival with autochthonous music and folkloric dances.  

Virgen de Luján´s Day

The 8 of May is the anniversary of The “Santa Imágen de Nuestra Señora de Luján” (holy image) established by the Pope León XIII. This is the main religious celebration in Luján; a huge number of peregrines arrive from all over the world to visit the sanctuary and to honor the virgin.

Horseback riding pilgrimage to “Virgen de Lujan”´s Sanctuary

The last Sunday of September the most picturesque and original spiritual manifestation in the world takes place: more than 7000 horseman accompanied by his families pilgrim, once a year, towards the sanctuary. Since 1945, each year, the number of visitors increase, they come from all over the world to participate in this celebration: Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, etc.

Youth Pilgrimage on foot

The first Sunday of October, a diocesan procession towards The “Virgen de Luján”´s Sanctuary takes place. Approximately 1.000.000 people express their gratitude and faith walking from different points of the country, in a huge effort to visit the Sanctuary and thank the “Virgen de Luján”.

Tourist attractions

National Basilica

The National Basilica is a place for religious tourism. It has an ostentatious sanctuary that reflects a gothic art and hoards the exquisiteness done by different artists. It was built between 1887 and 1935.
The Virgin of Luján is located inside the Basilica, it is a clay statue (38 centimeters high) that was molded in Brazil and then sent to Argentina in 1630.  It looks like The Immaculate of Murillo; it presents an inscription that says: “It is The Virgin of Luján, the founder of this town”.

The Zoo of Luján

It is located 4 Km before Luján. The site contains antelopes, rheas and flamingos, lions, pumas, tigers, wild boars, monkeys, dromedaries; all of them, living in natural places like their own habitats.
Here, you will get contact with nature and appreciate the animals and their peculiar behaviors.

Luján River

The Lujan river is situated 130 Km from Luján, it flows in La Plata river. It is possible to take catamarans trips, by the river, and go round the bank where the Florentino Ameghino Park is placed.

Ameghino Park

It is located behind the Historic Museum in front of the river bank. It is 3 hectares long and it was built by Carlos Thays. This is the perfect place to rest under a lush grove.

Useful information

In order to get more information about Lujan, you can call to:

Com. Prom. Turismo (COPROTUR)

Telephone:  02323 428680