Merichel Monastery in Canillo - this is one of the main religious sites, not only the city but also the entire country. Merichel Sanctuary was built in the XVII century. and is located near the Encamp.

It was here at the end of the XII century. villagers going to Mass from the village to the city, found under a bush of wild rose a statue of the Virgin and Child. The statue was moved to the temple in Canillo, but next day the statue of the Virgin was back in the thickets of wild rose. After residents brought the statue in Encamp, but she mysteriously disappeared again, returning to its original location under the rose bush. Finding a statue for the third time, the villagers took it as a sign, so we decided to build an open space around a flowering wild rose bush chapel.

Merichelskaya Virgin - this is the famous statue of the Virgin Mary. She is the patron saint of the whole country. As a result of a strong fire in September 1972, the Day of Our Lady of Merichelskoy chapel was destroyed, and with it, and it is located in the walls of the statue of the Virgin Mary. In 1976, the monastery has been completely restored. The decision to erect a new temple took the local authorities. The author of the project was made by the famous Catalan architect Ricardo Bofill. In novovozvedennoy chapel was installed copy was destroyed in 1972, the statue of the Virgin Mary.

Apart located in the sanctuary of Our Lady of the copy of the statue, there also are sculptures of the seven saints who are patrons of the seven districts of Andorra.

Today the monastery is a Merichel two churches: the old chapel and a new church. The old church was opened a permanent exhibition titled "Memory Merichelskoy Our Lady." On display are preserved after the fire in 1972 exhibits. Here you can see the temple bell and wrought steel lattice of the XVII century.

Every year on September 8 in the country celebrated the national holiday, established in honor of Our Lady Merichelskoy. Her sanctuary for many centuries is very popular not only among locals but also among foreign pilgrims.