Churches, Accueils
and Hospitals
The Church of Bernadette
The Church of St. Bernadette is a modern Church,
built in 1988 across from the Grotto and River Gave.
It stands on the spot where Bernadette stood
during the final (18th) Apparition.
It was designed to allow as much natural light as possible
into the nave,using light-coloured materials, making it noticeably
brighter than the Underground Basilica. It was designed by the
architect Jean-Paul Felix.
It is also a more versatile building, as the nave has provision
for 5,000 seated worshippers and 350 wheelchairs, but partitions
can be drawn which divide the nave into smaller sections.
In addition, it includes the Hemicycle, a large lecture room which
may be used for worship, and an assortment of conference rooms
and smaller rooms which may be used for devotional or
non-devotional activity.
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Chapel of Reconciliation
The Chapel of Reconciliation formerly occupied a site slightly
more remote,at the entrance of the Upper Stations of the Cross.
It was moved several years ago into a more prominent position,
into the building previously known as the Accueil Notre Dame,
near the Crowned Statue and facing the Esplanade.
The Chapel of Reconciliation is somewhat unusual in that no masses
or other services take place there; instead it is given over entirely
to the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Priests from different countries observe a duty roster,
which means that, at almost any time of day, pilgrims from Europe
(and occasionally further away) can find a priest who will hear
their confession in their own language.
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Accueils and Hospitals
The Accueil Notre Dame
Across the river from the grotto and the churches is the
Accueil Notre Dame, a modern facility built in 1996 to house
sick pilgrims during their time in Lourdes.
The Accueil Notre Dame was built to replace the two older
Accueils that were present within the Domain.
The old Accueil Notre Dame stood opposite the Underground Basilica,
and has been extensively remodelled, being divided into two
the convent of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers.
The other section is now known as the Accueil John Paul II,
and contains several chapels such as St Cosmos & St Damien,
the First Aid post and Dispensary, and the offices of the Hospitalité.
The other was the Accueil St. Bernadette, which stood across the river from
the old Accueil Notre Dame, and was demolished to make way for the new one.
Since Easter 1997, sick pilgrims from all over the world have been housed
in the Accueil Notre Dame, an airy modern building.
The Accueil is organised into two wings, each consisting of six storys,
with the Reception area on the ground floor and the Transit Lounge on the fifth.
Each floor from one to four is named after a specific saint, with female saints
honoured on one side and male ones on the other.
Each floor has a central refectory area where pilgrims congregate to eat.
The rooms, each with bathroom and shower, accommodate from one to six people.
Each room has a window, with some fortunate ones having a view of the Grotto,
and storage cupboards and a table and chairs.
Each room opens onto a communal area. Linking the two sides is the
Administration Area, with two panoramic lifts bringing visitors to each floor.
The administration offices are on the sixth and seventh floors,
and there are kitchens for each side.
Typically pilgrims arrive at the Accueil Notre Dame in buses from Lourdes
airport or train station, and will be welcomed in the transit lounge on the 5th floor.
From there they are taken to their rooms.
Pilgrims also depart from the transit lounge. Another accueil, the Accueil Marie St. Frai,
is located a short distance outsidethe domain;
it is similar in design and atmosphere to the Accueil Notre Dame.
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The Prairie
Across the 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 in good weather.
In 2002 the Water Walk was introduced, across the Gave and slightly
downstream from the Grotto. It consists of a series of nine stations
at which there is a small Lourdes water font.
