Andorra 2021 2€ Our Lady of Meritxell

Our Lady of Meritxell is the patroness of Andorra.

According to the official story, on a winter's day, a shepherd found the image of the Virgin under flowering roses. He decided to take it home but the image returned three times consecutively to the same place where it was found. Finally, the Andorrans decided to build a chapel on that place.

In 1873, the Consell General de les Valls declared her patroness of the country. On September 8, 1921, she was solemnly crowned. The influence of devotion is so great in Andorra that since then, the Principality's national festival has been celebrated on that day.