The Grotto
The grotto at Massabielle
is the heart of Lourdes!
At the time of the apparitions, it was a dumping grounds for the village
and where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette back in 1858.
Since then , a stone altar and lectern have been placed there so
that Mass can be said. Right above, is the niche where the apparitions
took place and Fabisch's statue now stands. A large stand of candles next
to the altar is kept burning during the season.
The spring that Bernadette dug is on the left side of the grooto
and is now shielded by a glass cover. Pilgrims can process through the
grotto and it is traditional to touch the rocks directly under the statue;
as a result, the walls of the grotto have become smoothed and polished
from the millions of pilgrims touching them.
Also on the left side of the grotto is a metal box into which written
prayers or petitions maybe deposited; they are collected daily and burnt.
There are rows of benches where visitors can sit and pray or contemplate.
Pilgrims are asked to remain silent while in the vicinity to create an
atmosphere of devotion.One of the spots where Bernadette prayed to
Mother Mary is marked by a special paving slab.
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The Basilicas
The Upper and Lower Basilica, as well as
the Crypt are called the Rosary Basilica.
As you can see it is in the shape of the Rosary!
It was the third of the churches to be completed, in 1899.
It was consecrated in 1901 and has a capacity of 1,500 worshippers.
The exterior of the dome is surmounted by a dramatic gilded
crown and cross, which were a gift from the people
of Ireland in 1924.
The Upper Basilica
The Basilica of the Immaculate Conception,
known widely as the Upper Basilica, was the second of the churches to be completed, consecrated in 1876. It is an impressive,elaborate building in Gothic style, designed by architect Hyppolyte Durand, and onone side seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle (the sanctuary is directly above the Grotto).
The walls are lined with ex voto plaques, and banners
from official National Pilgrimages of the past.
It has a series of stained-glass windows depicting
various events in the story of Lourdes; the clerestory windows depict Mary as the Second Eve.The exterior is dominated by a 70m spire, and two lesser spires (not completeduntil 1908).
Above the entrance is a mosaic depicting Pope Pius IX,
who defined the dogma of the Immaculate
Conception in 1854.
The Crypt was the first of the churches to be
completed in the Domain, and is today among the smallest. Construction was started by Abbé Peyramale and
Mgr. Laurence. Bernadette's father worked on its
construction and was present at its official opening,
on Pentecost Sunday, 1866.
The nave is small and a notable feature are the
enormous pillars which support theweight of the
Upper Basilica, which was constructed on top of it.
The Crypt is entered along a corridor, whose
entrance is dominated by a large bronzestatue of
St. Peter, holding the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.
Opposite stands astatue of Pius X.
The walls of the corridor and nave are lined with
small marble plaques, known as ex voto plaques,
donated in thanks of spiritual
favours received.
The Crypt
The open space in front of the Rosary Basilica is known as Rosary Square.The entrances to the Crypt and
the Upper Basilica, both of which are built
on top of Massabielle, are far above ground level. To facilitate access, two enormous ramps were constructed, which curve down either side of Rosary Square.
The image of the entrance of the Rosary Basilica,
flanked by the two ramps and surmounted by the
spires of the Upper Basilica, has become one of the iconic symbols of Lourdes, and a stylised form of this
image has been adopted by the Domain itself as its logo.
The Statue of the Crowned Virgin, often known as the "Crowned Statue"(French: La Vierge Couronnée),
stands across Rosary Square from the Rosary
Basilica and faces the entrance. This prominent
statue is a familiar landmark and a
traditional meeting point.
The statue is 2.5m high (8.2 feet)and cast
in bronze, painted white and blue in the traditional
colours. Her rosary is of the Birgittine style and incorporates six decades. Behind the Crowned
Statue is the Esplanade, a large open walkway which
is used in the processions.
Crowned Statue and Rosary Square
Looking out onto Rosary Square from the roof of the Basilica!
The Basilica of St. Pius X, known as the Underground Basilica, is the largest of the Domain's churches.
It was designed by the architect Pierre Vago and completed in 1958 in anticipation of the enormous crowds expected in Lourdes for the centenary of the Apparitions.
A modern, concrete building, it is almostentirely underground (part of the building lies beneath the Boulevard Père Rémi Sempé above).When full it can accommodate 25,000 worshippers.
Inside there are more than 50 large paintings of all your favorite saintsand many you've never head of!
Underground Basilica
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Map of the Domain/Sanctuary
of Lourdes!
Our hotel is at the foot of
St Michael's Gate #1...
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Salle Mgr. Donze 361
Salle Mgr. Billère 362
Salle Mgr. Jourdan 363
Salle Cal. Langénieux 364
Salle Mgr. Pichenot 365
Salle Mgr. Laurence 37
Multi-purpose meeting room in the forestB638
Cinema St.-BernadetteC2 39
Pavilions C3
YOUTH40
Youth ServiceLoupe41
Reception Desk fo ScoutsLoupe42
Salle St-Eugène de MazenodC143
The RotondesB644
Youth VillageA245
Maison St Pierre-St PaulA6
INFORMATION AND SERVICES50
INFORMATION CENTRELoupe 500
Reception Desk for Individual Pilgrims 501
Reception Desk for Groups 51
Pilgrimage Offices (Permances)Loupe 510
Lost PropertyLoupe 52
Pastoral Administration CentreLoupe 520
Rector's Office 521
General Secretariat(Planning Department) 522
Communication Department 523
Promotions Department 524
Photo Library 525
Chaplain Coordinators 526
Lourdes Magazine 527
Book shop Library 53
RadioC154
Hospitality of Our Lady of LourdesLoupe 540
Hospitality BureauLoupe 541
Abri St-MichelD2 542
St-MichelD1 543
Hospitality FoyerC1 55
Reception Desk for volunteer helpers and
members of Hospitality 550
Maison Marthe et MarieD3 551
HospitaletD3 552
FlorenceD3 553
Notre-Dame de la SagesseD5 554
Ave MariaB1 555
St-Benoît LabreC2 556
Foyer BernadetteB2 557
Villa de la forêtA656
Bridges 560
The Bridge of the BathsB5 561
The Bridge of the ArchesC4 562
St.Bernadette FootbridgeLoupe57
Chaplain's residenceB4 570
Espélugues I et IIA4 571 Bishop's ChaletB558
Print ShopB559
Finance and Administration OfficeB4
DONS ET OFFRANDES60
Mass offerings, CandlesC361
LeadLoupe 62
Distribution of Water, Gifts Votive OfferingsLoupe
SICK PILGRIMS 70
Way of the Cross for the less mobileB5 71
Medical Bureau(declaration of cures)Loupe72
First-Aid PostLoupe73
Accueil Notre-DameD374
Accueil Marie Saint-FraiB275
Salus InfirmorumD1
ENTRANCES
ISt.Michel'GateD1II
St.Joseph'GateC2III
Upper Basilica EntranceB3IV
Zigzag pathB4V
Forest EntranceB7VI
Meadow EntranceC6
VIIQuai Boissarie EntranceD3
GROTTO (Massabielle) and THE SIGNS OF LOURDES 10
THE GROTTO (Massabielle)B411
Water taps B412
Cancel BurnersB413
BathsB414
Water walkB515
Way of the Cross on the Espélugues HillB316
Museum of Precious objectsB317
Crown statueC3 170
Rosary Square 18
Museum of St. Bernadette(departure point for the "Footstep of Bernadette")C119
Museum of the MiraclesD2
EUCHARIST AND RECONCILIATION20
Basilica of the Immaculate Conception B4 200
Chapel of St.-Joan of Arc 201
Chapel of St.-Anne 21
Rosary BasilicaC3 210
Esplanade Altar 22
CryptB3 220
Chapel of St.-Gabriel 221
Chapel of St.-Michael 23
Underground Basilica of St. Pius XC2 230
Chapel of St.-Teresa 231
Way of the Cross of St.-Pius X 232
Way of the Saints 24
Chapel of Notre-DameC125
Chapel of St.-JosephD226
Accueil John-Paul IILoupe 260
Chapel of St.-Maximilian Kolbe 261
Chapel of St.-Cosmos and St.-Damien 27
Reconciliation Chapel Loupe 270
Chapel of St.-Jean-Marie Vianney 28
Church of St.- BernadetteC4 280
Chapel of St.-Patrick 29
MeadowC5 290
Adoration Chapel C4 291
Tent of Adoration B5 292
Podium AltarC4
MEETINGS AND CONFERENCES30
Meeting Rooms in the Information ForumLoupe 300
Salle Dr. Leuret 301
Salle Dr. Boissarie 302
Salle Mgr. Peyramale(video room) 303
Salle Cal. Gerlier 304
Salle Mgr. Schoepfer 305
Salle Mgr. Choquet 306
Salle P. Sempé 307
Salle Mgr Poirier 308
Salle Blessed John XXIII 31
Entraide St-MartinLoupe32
Accueil Paul VIC1 320
Salle Mgr. Théas 321
Salle Benoît XV 322
Salle Léon XIII 323
Hall Dom Billet 33
PavilionsC134
Pilgrims' ShelterD1 340
Diorama 35
Meeting Rooms in Accueil John-Paul IILoupe 350
Salle Jean-Paul 1er 351
Salle Pius XI 352
Salle Pius XII 36
Hemicycle at the Church of St.-BernadetteC4 360
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The Prairie
Across the River Gave from the Grotto is a wide, open,
uncluttered space covered with grass and known in French as the 'prairie,
or in English, the meadow.
In the corner of the prairie is the tent-like Chapel of Adoration,
consecrated in 1995 and given over entirely to veneration
of the Blessed Sacrament, and there is an open-air altar for
outdoor ceremonies when the weather is good.
