Written TidbitsLourdes France

By Jim and Emmy Humberd

In 1858, a fourteen-year-old girl, now known as Bernadette, saw the Virgin Mary at the grotto, and at her direction Bernadette uncovered a spring. Millions of people visit here each year, and miraculous cures are attributed to the waters of this spring.

Luckily we found a parking place in downtown Lourdes, then walked through the town. The area is crowded with hotels, restaurants and tourist shops filled to overflowing onto the sidewalk, some with schlocky tourist gadgets.

The large two-level basilica is built into the base of a hill, with gardens and footpaths on the hillside above. We understood that each level is considered a basilica, and masses were scheduled in both throughout the day, and in many languages in other chapels on adjacent streets. Hundreds of wheelchairs and stretcher-carts are parked in sheds next to the hospital near the basilica. They are used by the unbelievable number of sick and disabled, who come to Lourdes for healing.

Past the basilica we came to the famous "la Grotte des Apparitions." It is a small shallow cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary, and with crutches hanging from its roof near the entrance. Near the grotto, water is available from twenty water taps for tourists to drink, and to fill bottles to take home. Tubs are available in the gray marble bathhouse where the pilgrims may bathe in water from the spring.

The setting of the town and the basilica is exceptionally beautiful. It would have been nice to see all this without the rain, but it rained both years we visited Lourdes. The castle on a hill in the center of town was closed for lunch and nap time just when we were ready to visit, and the crowds of people we had seen on the streets a few minutes earlier had disappeared. We can't imagine there are enough restaurants to hold (hide) them all.

It would have been nice to use the lunch hour as a time to shop and further explore, but like small towns in much of Europe, except for restaurants, most everything in Lourdes closed down for an hour or two at mid-day.

Books by Jim and Emmy Humberd:
Invitation to France
Invitation to Germany
Invitation to Italy

Related Links:
Lourdes France
Lourdes - France

Hotels in Lourdes

French Video Immersion