Lourdes, France
In 1858, a poor 14 year old French girl living in a small village in southwest France had 18 different visions which she came to realize were of the Virgin Mary. Her name was Bernadette Soubirous. After word of the first vision spread, several of the locals attended the later visions and saw the same image as young Bernadette.
When she was old enough, Bernadette entered a convent in Nevers, France where she lived the rest of her short life. She was in poor health, with most of her last two years spent in the infirmary, and died in 1879, at the age of 35. Her body lies in a chapel of the convent in Nevers, France and if you visit it today, she appears to be in excellent health, merely sleeping. Her skin, hair, fingernails all seem to belong to a very healthy young woman taking her rest. Something remarkable happened in Lourdes, France in 1858 and people come from all over the world hoping to share in that remarkable experience.
When she was old enough, Bernadette entered a convent in Nevers, France where she lived the rest of her short life. She was in poor health, with most of her last two years spent in the infirmary, and died in 1879, at the age of 35. Her body lies in a chapel of the convent in Nevers, France and if you visit it today, she appears to be in excellent health, merely sleeping. Her skin, hair, fingernails all seem to belong to a very healthy young woman taking her rest. Something remarkable happened in Lourdes, France in 1858 and people come from all over the world hoping to share in that remarkable experience.
The town in the 21st century
Grand Hotel de la Grotte, Lourdes, France
Lourdes remains a small French town, that has grown into a major tourist destination, with visitors coming from all over the world. It reportedly has more hotel rooms than any other French city or town, excepting only Paris. Imagine any common tourist destination--with numerous hotels, restaurants and gift shops all catering to the many tourists who will be arriving all year round--and you have Lourdes, France. Only this town is a tourist destination on religious steroids. You can find guide books about the town, books about Bernadette and the many visions she had, and books about the Catholic religion written in every imaginable language as well as a wide variety of religious icons.
Churches in Lourdes
Rosary Basilica, Lourdes, France
Bernadette and her sisters were out gathering fire wood, to heat their home, when she had the first vision. This spot was in a wooded area, near a rock wall and close to the river. The first chapel was built at this spot in 1866. As the years past and the number of pilgrims increased, more and more chapels were built to accommodate the ever increasing crowds. The photos below only show 2 of those churches.
In one of the visions, Bernadette was told to drink at the spring, wash in it and eat the grass that was there, which she did. On the next visit, there was a clear spring flowing in that area. Today, many pilgrims come to Lourdes to bathe in that same spring, which has been flowing since 1858.
In one of the visions, Bernadette was told to drink at the spring, wash in it and eat the grass that was there, which she did. On the next visit, there was a clear spring flowing in that area. Today, many pilgrims come to Lourdes to bathe in that same spring, which has been flowing since 1858.
The pilgrims at Lourdes
Pilgrims come from all over the world to Lourdes, and for many different reasons. Many are looking for a cure to a physical illness, others are looking for hope, many seek confirmation and solace. The one thing that is missing from Lourdes, that is present at many other popular tourist destinations, is rudeness. Kindness can be found in abundance throughout Lourdes, in the hotels, in restaurants, in gift shops and especially among the pilgrims.
Nevers, France
St. Gildard's Convent, Nevers, France
If you make a trip to Lourdes hoping to see the body of Bernadette, you will be disappointed. She entered a convent in Nevers, France and did not return to Lourdes. She died in Nevers and her body has remained there. Nevers is another delightful little French town that also draws pilgrims from many countries, but not nearly as many as Lourdes.