Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes

Many people visit a special place in France.

It is called Lourdes. A long time ago, a girl named Bernadette saw a lady there. This happened near a large rock called a grotto.

People believe the water from this rock can help them. Many sick people go there to pray. They also walk in big groups with bright candles.

It is a very famous place to visit.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is in France.

It is a very famous place for Catholic pilgrims. Many people visit this site to pray. Some people go there because they are sick.

The site started in 1858. A girl named Bernadette Soubirous saw a lady there. This happened near a rock called the Massabielle grotto. The lady told Bernadette to drink water from a spring. This water flows from the grotto.

Many people believe this water has healing powers. The Catholic Church has recognized 72 miracle healings. The sanctuary has three large churches called basilicas. One is the upper basilica. One is the Rosary Basilica. The last is an underground basilica.

People often walk in big groups called processions. One is a torchlight procession at night. Many people carry candles during this walk. About four million tourists visit every year. Since 1860, an estimated 200 million people have visited the shrine.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a famous Catholic site in France.

It is a place where millions of people go to pray and find peace. Many pilgrims travel there because they are sick or have disabilities. They come to visit the grotto of Massabielle. This is a rocky area where special events happened long ago. The sanctuary is a very busy place with many different buildings. It is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the entire world.

Visitors can see many different religious buildings at the sanctuary. There are three large churches called basilicas. The first is the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, also called the Upper Basilica. The second is the Rosary Basilica. The third is the Basilica of St. Pius X, which is underground.

The sanctuary also has fountains and baths for the water. People use these to collect or wash in the water from the grotto. There is also a large open space for big walks called processions. This area helps people come together for prayer and worship.

The history of this place began in 1858. A 14-year-old girl named Bernadette Soubirous was playing near the grotto.

She said she saw a lady standing on a rose bush. Bernadette saw this lady 18 times between February and July of 1858. The lady told Bernadette to drink water from a spring in the grotto. She also told her to tell priests to build a chapel there. This started the growth of the sanctuary we see today.

Many people visit the site to see the special water.

The water flows from a spring inside the grotto. Many pilgrims believe this water can perform miraculous healings. The Catholic Church has officially recognized 72 miracle healings at this site. The most recent one was for Antonietta Raco on April 16, 2025. About four million tourists visit the sanctuary every year. Since 1860, an estimated 200 million people have visited this holy place.

Life at the sanctuary follows many traditions and schedules. Every day at 5:00 pm, there is a Blessed Sacrament procession. This walk includes doctors and many different groups of pilgrims. At 9:00 pm, there is a famous torchlight procession.

During this night walk, people carry candles and pray the rosary. Many of these activities happen in different languages for people from all over. The sanctuary stays busy throughout the year to help everyone who visits.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is a major Catholic Marian shrine and pilgrimage site.

It is located in the town of Lourdes within the Hautes-Pyrénées region of France. This site is significant because it serves as a center for devotional activities and a destination for many pilgrims. Many of these visitors are sick or have disabilities. The sanctuary provides accommodation for these pilgrims and their helpers. It is managed by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Tarbes-et-Lourdes.

The sanctuary's importance is centered on the Grotto of Massabielle. This is the rocky site where a series of religious events, known as apparitions, occurred in 1858. The sanctuary includes several religious structures and facilities. There are three distinct basilicas: the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, the Rosary Basilica, and the underground Basilica of St. Pius X.

The grounds also feature fountains providing Lourdes water and baths for immersion. Other elements include an esplanade for large processions, a calvary, and the offices of the Lourdes Medical Bureau.

The history of the sanctuary began with Bernadette Soubirous. In February 1858, Bernadette was a 14-year-old peasant girl. While playing near the Grotto of Massabielle, she reported seeing a "lady" standing on a rose bush. This lady appeared in a niche above the main cavity of the grotto. Between February 11 and July 16, 1858, Bernadette reported seeing this vision 18 times. The figure eventually identified herself as the Immaculate Conception. This was a significant detail because Pope Pius IX had proclaimed this as a dogma in 1854. This identification helped local priest Dominique Peyramale conclude the apparitions were authentic.

Following the apparitions, the site underwent significant physical changes. The lady gave Bernadette specific instructions that shaped the sanctuary. She was told to drink water from a spring in the grotto and to wash with it. She was also told to instruct priests to build a chapel at the site. In 1861, local priest Dominique Peyramale and Bishop Bertrand-Sévère Laurence purchased the grotto and surrounding land. They began modifying the area to make it accessible for pilgrims. The first church, now called the "Crypt," was completed in 1866.

In 1864, the sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch created an iconic statue of Our Lady of Lourdes based on Bernadette's descriptions.

Today, the sanctuary is a massive operation with significant global reach. It is one of the most visited Catholic shrines in the world. Approximately four million tourists visit the site every year. Since 1860, an estimated 200 million people have visited the shrine. The sanctuary is run by a large staff, including 30 full-time chaplains. There are also 292 full-time lay employees and 120 seasonal employees. The annual running budget is approximately €18 million, with 90% of that coming from donations.

A central feature for many is the Lourdes water. This water flows from a spring discovered during the apparitions. Many pilgrims believe the water has miraculous healing powers. The Roman Catholic Church has officially recognized 72 miracle healings at the site. The 72nd recognized healing was that of Antonietta Raco on April 16, 2025.

While independent chemists in 1858 and 1859 found no special medicinal properties, the water remains a powerful symbol of devotion. Many people take the water home in large containers or small vials.

Life at the sanctuary involves many structured religious traditions. There are two main daily processions. The Blessed Sacrament procession occurs at 5:00 pm. It is led by sick pilgrims and a priest or bishop carrying a monstrance. A group of doctors often follows the procession. The second is the torchlight Marian procession at 9:00 pm.

During this event, participants carry candles and recite the rosary. These activities often happen in multiple languages to accommodate the international crowds. The sanctuary remains active year-round, though the schedule changes during the winter season.