The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes (also known as the Domain)

The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception (Upper Basilica) and the Rosary Basilica (Lower Basilica from the bridge down)

The Grotto of Massabielle - Where Bernadette Soubirous saw apparitions of the Immaculate Conception (aka - The Virgin Mary)

Statues at the Basilica

Front entrance to the Rosary Basilica

One of the many mosaic pictures in the Rosary Basilica

The gold Cross and Crown which was gifted to Lourdes by the people of Ireland

On 11 February 1858, a 14 year old girl named Bernadette Soubirous claimed to have seen apparitions of the Virgin Mary in a small grotto on the outskirts of Lourdes. The apparitions always appeared in the same small niche within the grotto and a statue of The Virgin Mary now stands in its place. Among the instructions the Virgin gave were, ""Go and drink from the spring", "Go and tell the priests to build a chapel here", and "Have the people come here in procession". These three instructions in particular were to prove pivotal in the development of the Domain and its ceremonies here in Lourdes.

Thousands of pilgrims come to Lourdes each year, in hope of receiving a miracle to cure their illnesses (so far the Roman Catholic Church recognizes 67 miracles), they drink water from the spring which Bernadette discovered and which many people believe has healing properties, whilst others choose to immerse themselves in the baths containing Lourdes water.

The Basilicas are beautiful. They contain elaborate mosaic pictures depicting scenes from the Bible and have wonderfully crafted stained glass windows. There are also numerous statues which overlook Rosary Square which is can contain thousands of pilgrims at any one time.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a wonderful site, definitely worth a visit...