Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes: The Sacred Domain (Immaculate Lourdes Series 5)

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes
The Sacred Domain
Immaculate Lourdes Series 5 

Being a pilgrim city the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is
 the main destination of most of the tourists in Lourdes, France.

Most commonly known Domain, the refers to the area

surrounding the sacred shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes.

 

The Rue de Grotte, is the main

thoroughfare to the sanctuary-

 

…that crosses a bridge at the Gave de Pau, which leads to

 the Abri Saint Michel the main gateway to  the sanctuary. 

 Right at the entrance is the Calvaire des Britons,

a sculpture of Christ’s crucifixion of at the calvary.

The L’ Esplanade is a tree lined pedestrianized road

flanked  with lovely well manicured gardens, parks,

 

… important places of worship like the Chaplee de St Joseph,

Basilique Saint Pie and the Musee de Miracle de Lourdes

The L’ Esplanade leads to a rotunda with the

Satatue de la Vierge Couronnee de Lourdes

perched on a tall pedestal serves as a centerpiece.

 

Right in front is spacious plaza

called the Rosary Square

…which leads to the Basilique de Notre Dame du Rosarie.

 

 

 

The Rosary Basilica, flanked by the two ramps and stairs,

 

…that leads to the Crypt,

 

…and the Upper Basilica,

 

...  which are built on top of
 Massabielle, above ground level.

Right is front of the Crypt is a wide space 

 

...that offers an awesome view of the Rosary Square,

the Satatue de la Vierge Couronnee de Lourdes

and the scenic, verdant, tree- lined L’ Esplanade.

 

At the right side of the Basilique de Notre Dame du Rosarie-

 

...is the grotto, the most scared place in this pilgrimage site.

 

The image of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

 within the rock cave at Massabielle-

…is the exact site where St. Bernadette Soubirous witnessed

the apparitions on what is now called the miracle of Lourdes.

 

Lourdes water flows from a spring discovered

by Bernadette at the base of the grotto, now

protected by a glass screen and lit from below.

 

Pilgrims drink Lourdes Water due to its reputed

healing power and collected from individual taps

located between the Massabielle and the baths.

 

The Baths or Piscines is located right ahead

and each year, approximately more 350,000

pilgrims bathe in the healing water of Lourdes.

 

Across the river is the Chapel of Candles -

 

...where pilgrims can light devotional candles and 
about 800 tonnes of wax is burnt annually in here.

 

 

Also at the other side of the river is the Church of St .Bernadette.


 .  
 It was built opposite  the Grotto, this is the spot where  Bernadette 
 stood during the eighteenth and final apparition of Virgin Mary..

Also called Église de Sainte Bernadette in French,

it has a church patio that offers a breathtaking view

of the Massabielle and the beautiful Upper Basilica.

 

At the rear part of the Église de Sainte Bernadette 
is the  Monastère des Sœurs Carmélites .

 

Nearby is the Accueil Notre Dame. Designed in the form

of “open arms” to remind that everyone is  welcome and

cared for at the Lourdes sanctuary. It is exclusively reserved

for the accommodation of the sick and disabled pilgrims.

Beside it is the Hospitalité Notre-Dame de Lourdes.

The headquarter of a Roman Catholic volunteers that

word like a religious confraternity, This group serves

various sections of the sanctuary like welcome pilgrims

at the Baths especially during the peak pilgrimage season

Sick pilgrims miraculously healed by Lourdes water

has been meticulously investigated and documented

by the church and by the Lourdes Medical Bureau.

 

For the Catholic devotees The Lourdes Sanctuary

is a must visit destination for Marian pilgrimage.

Links for the Immaculate Lourdes Series:

Hotel Majestic 
Tranquil Abode in Lourdes
Immaculate Lourdes Series 1 

AFC (AMMA Fried Chicken) 
Better Than Finger Licking Good. 
ImmaculateLourdes Series 2 

Rue de Grotte 
The Road to Holiness
Immaculate Lourdes Series 3 

Cinema Majestic 
Ancient Religious Theater
Immaculate Lourdes Series 4 

Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes 
The Sacred Domain
Immaculate Lourdes Series 5 

Gave de Pau 
A River Runs Thru It
Immaculate Lourdes Series 6 

L’ Ermitage Restaurant 
Delicious Food, Friendly Service 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 7 

Petit Train Touristique de Lourdes 
The Best of Lourdes by Mini- Train 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 8 

Funiculaire du Pic du Jer 
Scenic Ancient Funicular Train
Immaculate Lourdes Series 9 

Pic du Jer 
The Best View of the Pyrenees 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 10 

Lourdes Evening Procession 
River of Lights at the Shrine 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 11 

L’ Europeen 
Delicious Indian Cuisine
Immaculate Lourdes Series 12 

Traditional Lourdes Pastries 
Unique French Provincial Snacks
Immaculate Lourdes Series 13 

Le Petit Lourdes 
Ancient Lourdes in Microcosm
Immaculate Lourdes Series 14 

Musee de Cire 
Awesome Religious Wax Museum 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 15 

La Maison de Bernadette 
A Saint’s Humble Home
Immaculate LourdesSeries 16 

Musee de Pyreneen 
Breathraking Hilltop Castle Museum 
Immaculate Lourdes Series 17 

Au Rendez vous des Ch’timis et des Bretons 
Good Food, Homey Restaurant
Immaculate Lourdes Series 18 

Amazing Lourdes 
Beautiful Rustic Pligrim City
Immaculate Lourdes Series 19