Sacred Destinations

Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes

Lourdes Grotto and River
View over the Grotto (below the basilica, left) and the River Gave in Lourdes. Photo Creative Commons License Br Lawrence Lew, OP.

Grotto of Massabielle, Lourdes
Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes at the Grotto of Massabielle. Beneath are Mary's words: "I am the Immaculate Conception." Photo Creative Commons License Anthony.


Pilgrims at the Grotto of Massabielle. Photo Creative Commons License Br Lawrence Lew, OP.

Sick Pilgrims
Sick pilgrims seek physical and spiritual healing at the Grotto of Massabielle. Photo Creative Commons License Br Lawrence Lew, OP.


Dominican friars say Mass at the Grotto. Photo Creative Commons License Br Lawrence Lew, OP.


Pilgrims pray before the Grotto. Photo Creative Commons License Nicholas Thompson.




The most sacred site at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is the Grotto of Massabielle, also known as the Miraculous Cave or the Cave of Apparitions.

History

The Grotto of Massabielle is the site of St. Bernadette's visions of the Virgin Mary in 1858. The Blessed Virgin is said to have pointed out a previously undiscovered spring in the grotto and instructed Bernadette to drink from it.

What to See

The spring water from the grotto is believed to possess healing properties, and the Roman Catholic Church occasionally officially recognizes miraculous healings.

Faithful pilgrims, especially those in need of healing, flock to the Grotto of Massabielle to immerse themselves in the grotto's 17 pools - 6 for men and 11 for women.

Quick Facts

Site Information
Names: Grotto of Massabielle
Location:Lourdes, Midi-Pyrenees, France
Faith:Christianity
Denomination:Catholic
Categories: Sacred Waters; Catholic Shrines
Status:active
Visitor Information
Coordinates: 43.09765° N, 0.058043° W   (view on Google Maps)
Lodging:View hotels near this location

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Travel Resources

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Grotto of Massabielle. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our Lourdes Map.

Article Sources

  1. Lourdes-france.org – official website
  2. Religious Heritage of Lourdes - Lourdes Office de Tourisme
  3. Notre-Dame de Lourdes – Catholic Encyclopedia
  4. Lourdes Travel - TripAdvisor
  5. Lourdes, France – Lonely Planet
  6. A Visit to Lourdes – Spirituality.org


Last updated on June 29, 2009.





 


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