Pilgrimage to Lourdes, in the heart of the Pyrenees – PHOTO GALLERY
In a little town in the Pyrenees, in southwest France, where, once, the only attraction were the ruins of a castle, you will find a true oasis of tranquility and spiritual retreat, in Lourdes. Became too small for tourists from around the world who make pilgrimages to this holy place, this French city is a unique destination to spend your Easter holidays. By 1858, Lourdes was no more than a modest town, away from noise and commotion, but fate was to be changed. Bernadette Soubirous, aged 14 years, then received the blessing of God, the appearance of the Virgin Mary in a cave. All the girl said was that she met a beautiful woman who introduced herself as the Immaculate Conception. Virgin was still faithful to the little show 17 times, after that, each time telling her to the sanctuary. Since then, pilgrims from all over the world came to be in the middle of the holy place. In February of 2008, Christians have celebrated 150 years since the first appearance of the Holy, the festival held then more than 45,000 pilgrims attended.
Miracle cures
Although Lourdes had only 15,000 inhabitants, has an incredible capacity for accommodations, with the largest number of hotels across France, after Paris. Become a preferred destination for Europeans, but also Christians from other parts of the world, where the Virgin has appeared and is chosen by visitors from March until October. The source said that leaving the grotto of Massabielle Grotte has blessed power from which over two hundred million believers who come to Lourdes were drinking holy water, from 1860 until today. Even the Catholic Church officially recognized 67 miracle cures after suffering people around the world crossed the threshold of the cave. Over time, many skeptics have tried to deny this kind of events, hoping to be able to demonstrate scientifically that healings have occurred against a backdrop of parallel treatments with drugs, but failed.
Trade, the main activity of the native
French in this city have realized that you can live very well on the trade in religious articles, but unfortunately, this concern has turned into a huge dominance of kitsch. And aftershocks have been launched to look tougher on the French village, some arguing that the holy place is nothing but a money mill for the native product. If you reach the highest place of pilgrimage for the Virgin Mary in the world, you should get to visit Peyramale Square, the main attraction of the town. In Southwest market, you’ll find Cachot former prison, where the Soubirous family lived, and at 80 meters above the Lourdes you will see the castle’s museum that hides the Pyrenees, which offers an incredible panorama of the French village.
An article written by Fadia Hirtan
for www.travelmix.ro
