La Grotte de Massabielle

The rock in which the cave is dug called Massabielle, which means: old rock. In this mass of 27 meters, the cave measuring 3.80 meters, 9.50 meters and 9.85 meters wide. It consists of three openings uneven: the largest has become a celebration of mass. Above, a little to the right, is a Gothic niche of 2 meters. This is the place where the Virgin Mary appeared to Bernadette between February 11 and July 16, 1858. The statue, 1.88 meters high, is visiting the attitude she took when she said: "I am the Immaculate Conception." It was installed in this niche April 4, 1864. Gift of Lyon 2, it was directed by Joseph Fabisch, a professor at the Ecole des Beaux Arts de Lyon. On the ground, left face of the Grotto, the exact spot where Bernadette was is shown by a plaque: "Here Bernadette prayed February 11, 1858." At the bottom of the cave to the left of the altar, we can see spring source that Bernadette began to date on the indications of the Virgin February 25, 1858. This water is now channeled into fountains, pools and the path of the water. Behind the altar is an urn where people can deposit their prayer intentions. Before the altar, a plaque commemorating the visit of Pope August 15, 1983.