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Lourdes France
Lourdes is a holy place and it is visited by a tremendous number of people. There are several extraordinary things that Lourdes is known for. |
Lourdes is known for how it all began -with a young girl seeing apparitions of Mary.The girls name was Bernadette.
The apparitions occurred in a Grotto in 1858. Here is a picture of the Grotto.
A basilica was built right over the Grotto. (The Sanctuary of our Lady of Lourdes). It is a gothic cathedral and it's construction took place between 1862 and 1871. It was consecrated in 1876.
The whole grounds of the basilica is quite amazing. It is called the Sanctuary of our lady of Lourdes. The Basilica itself is quite amazing. And there is something I want to point out here. On the picture I have placed an X. This points out an arched and curved colonnade. There is another one to the left that is behind the trees. These two curved colonnades form a large plaza right in front of the basilica.
Picture credit: lafiguradelpadre Congreso, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A look at part of the colonnade from outside of the plaza.
This next picture shows us standing inside the plaza area. You can see the beginnings of each colonnade on the left and right. They wrap around us forming the plaza area. These colonnades are a bit different than those in Rome. These are ramps. So you can enter the ramped colonnade either on the left or right and walk all the way up to the level of the basilica. It is quite remarkable. And it fits in very well with one of the most important things about Lourdes: It's care and love for the sick.
Lourdes is renowned world-wide for the healing properties of it's waters. There is along history of miracles happening when people either drink or bathe in it's water. And there are many places in the sanctuary where you can fill containers with the water or even bathe in the water.
Another important thing about Lourdes is that they have a candlelit vigil every night. It progresses around the Sanctuary.
And it ends with a projection of Mother Mary on the basilica. It is quite a beautiful and emotional experience.
The Chateau Fort de Lourdes
Video of the candlelit procession
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This colonnade area in front of the basilica is very much like the one built in front of Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome which was designed by the Renaissance great Bernini. This area is called "Saint Peter's Square". 
