University of Notre Dame, Private Catholic university in South Bend, United States.
The University of Notre Dame is a Catholic institution in South Bend, Indiana, with an expansive campus home to more than 160 buildings in various architectural styles. The centerpiece is the Golden Dome atop the main building, surrounded by lawns, athletic facilities, and several chapels.
A French priest named Edward Sorin founded the institution in 1842 alongside eight Holy Cross brothers on a plot of land near a lake. Over the following decades the small school grew into one of the most recognized Catholic universities in North America.
Students and visitors often gather at the Grotto, a replica of Lourdes, which serves as a spiritual focal point on campus. On game days the grounds transform into a celebration with tailgating parties and chants echoing all the way to the stadium.
The grounds can be explored on foot, with most paths well marked and leading past the main buildings. Visitors are welcome on weekdays, tours are offered, and some buildings such as the basilica can be viewed from inside.
Beneath the lawn in front of the main building lies an underground tunnel network connecting several buildings, used heavily in winter. The grotto by the lake is often lit with hundreds of candles that students light throughout the year.
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