Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, Catholic pilgrimage site in Lourdes, France
The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a pilgrimage site in the French Pyrenees that stretches along the Gave de Pau river. Pathways lead from the main entrance to the Massabielle grotto, passing several churches and open spaces for ceremonies.
Bernadette Soubirous reported 18 apparitions of the Virgin Mary at the Massabielle grotto between February and July 1858. Within a few years, thousands of pilgrims arrived and the first churches were built on the rock above the grotto.
Large groups gather each afternoon before the grotto, while thousands walk through the grounds with candles in the evening. Volunteers accompany sick pilgrims to the baths housed in simple buildings beside the spring.
The grounds remain open throughout the day and night, allowing visitors to reach the grotto or churches at any hour. Staff and volunteers are present during daylight hours to support sick or mobility-limited pilgrims.
Water from the grotto spring flows through 17 separate fountains where pilgrims collect it in bottles for personal use. Many bring empty containers or buy them at nearby shops before heading to the fountains.
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