First Apparition

Experience February 11 in Lourdes

February 11 is a sacred date for visitors to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. On this day, many pilgrims walk to the banks of the Gave de Pau, to the very place where the Virgin Mary first appeared to Bernadette Soubirous: the Grotto of Massabielle.

Statue de la Vierge dans la grotte des apparitions de Lourdes

THE EMOTION OF THE SITE

There are places that leave no one indifferent. The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes is naturally one of them. The atmosphere of benevolence, along with the pilgrims’ fervour, is always moving. The emotion is even more intense on February 11, the anniversary of the first apparition. On this date, large numbers of pilgrims from all over the world come to Lourdes to celebrate the anniversary. Making at least one visit to the Sanctuary on this occasion is really an exceptional experience.

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THE GROTTO OF APPARITIONS

On the banks of the Gave de Pau, the grotto of Massabielle was just an unremarkable cave until 11 February 1858. Today it is probably the best-known cave in the world. It is a major pilgrimage site, the heart of the sanctuary, where it all began…

Discover

The evening before, Monday 10 February :
9.00 pm Torchlight procession and announcement of the feast day

8.00 am Lauds at the Basilica of the Rosary with the Sanctuary chaplains
10am International Mass at the Basilica of Saint Pius X.
12.00 Angelus at the Grotto and evocation of the Apparition
12.00 Rosary in Ukrainian
13:00 Rosary in Portuguese
13:30 Rosary in Arabic
14.00 Rosary in Polish
14:30 Rosary in German
15h00 Rosary in English
15h30 Rosary in French
16h15 Rosary in Spanish
17.00 Adoration and blessing of the Blessed Sacrament in the Basilica of Saint Pius X
18:00 Rosary in Italian
21:00 Torchlight procession

DISCOVER DURING

the celebrations of February 11

The way of Bernadette

Les 4 saisons au Sanctuaire. La basilique de l'Immaculée Conception

The Basilicas

WAY OF THE CROSS

An introduction to
Bernadette Soubirous

Bernadette Soubirous was born on 7 January 1844. Nothing predisposed her to the incredible life she lived. In 1858, she was just 14 years old when she went to the banks of the Gave de Pau on February 11…