⛪ Sanctuary of the Verdún Virgin

About This Sacred Site

The Sanctuary of the Virgin of Verdún (Santuario de la Virgen del Verdún) is located on Cerro del Verdún hill near the city of Minas in Lavalleja department, Uruguay. The site is one of the most important Marian pilgrimage destinations in the country. A chapel on the summit, reached by a path with Stations of the Cross, offers panoramic views of the surrounding hills and countryside. Every April 19, thousands of pilgrims climb the hill for the annual celebration. The sanctuary was established after a replica of the French Notre-Dame de Verdun was placed here.

Spiritual Significance

Situated atop Cerro del Verdún near Minas, the Sanctuary of the Verdún Virgin has been a focal point for Marian devotion in Uruguay since its establishment in the early 20th century, attracting pilgrims who ascend the hill via a path marked by 14 Stations of the Cross, each station featuring detailed sculptures that depict Christ's Passion as narrated in the Gospel of John 19. The sanctuary hosts the annual pilgrimage on December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, where thousands participate in rosary recitations and candlelight processions honoring the Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Verdún. The sanctuary’s chapel, constructed in a neo-Gothic architectural style, contains a venerated statue of the Virgin, believed to have been brought from France by early settlers, linking local Marian devotion to European Catholic traditions. The site functions as a place for communal penance and prayer, with pilgrims often leaving ex-votos—offerings of thanks for miracles attributed to the Virgin’s intercession. Clergy at the sanctuary emphasize the theological doctrine of Mary as Mediatrix, encouraging faithful to seek her maternal protection in accordance with teachings from the Second Vatican Council's Lumen Gentium, chapter 8.

Key Facts

• •Located on Cerro del Verdún hill near the city of Minas
• •One of Uruguay's most important Marian pilgrimage sites
• •The path to the summit includes Stations of the Cross
• •The annual pilgrimage on April 19 draws thousands
• •Named after Notre-Dame de Verdun in France

Location

Coordinates: -34.3500, -55.2333