Sanctuaries Notre Dame de Lourdes

Sanctuaries Notre Dame de Lourdes, the most revered site is known variously as the Grotte de Massabielle (Massabielle Cave or Grotto), the Grotte Miraculeuse (Miraculous Cave) and the Grotte des Apparitions (Cave of the Apparitions). Open 24 hours, its walls are worn smooth by the touch of millions of hands over the years. Nearby are 19 pools in which 400,000 pilgrims seeking cures immerse themselves each year. Miraculous cures are becoming rarer; the last medically certified case took place in 1987 and, after an exhaustive 1-year investigation, was recognised by the church as a miracle.