Lourdes, France

Lourdes is a beautiful part of the world, located in the south-west of France. This is a major Catholic pilgrimage site based around the local sacred spring, said to hold healing powers. Given my recent experience with the holy wells in England I thought it would be relevant to visit here also.

Cathedral on the river.

Although this place was beautiful, and situated on an amazing yin earth energy, I found it to be quite a spectacle. There are something like 5 million pilgrims here every year. The town itself is full of hotels and shops selling cheap trinkets etc. Many people come here hoping to be healed (there have been something like 70 verifiable miraculous healings, really, the odds aren't great). This is turned into a public event where ill people are wheeled out on stretchers in front of video cameras etc :-/

The major reason for this place being sacred is based on a girl (later Saint Bernadette) who saw apparitions of the Virgin Mary, whom appeared to her 18 times. The cynic in me thinks it is fortunate she referred to her as the Virgin Mary rather than any other feminine or earth spirit, which may have landed her in hot water, as opposed to sainthood.

Sacred grotto

I found the most amazing energy here on the mountain, in a cave (which is fenced off). The hill itself is dedicated to a walk entailing a series of statues portraying the crucifixion of Jesus. While I understand this is sacred to many Catholics and I respect that, I was surprised to see this request to climb these stone stairs on one's knees. Are the elderly or ill visitors supposed to partake in this? Hmm, possibly a lack of understanding on my part.

Go up on knees??

Anyway, I digress. I did meet some lovely people here, but given my lack of knowledge, understanding and exposure to Catholicism I found it all a bit overwhelming.

I found myself thinking of all the neglected local sacred wells I had just visited as I watched the spectacle at the fountains where people were queued several deep, filling many containers of water. I wonder what benefits can be found from reviving and utilising these local ancient sites, rather than pilgrim-aging across the world to this one location?

I am aware that there is a level of irony and hypocrisy in my saying that given my travels, but I feel there is a benefit in reviving, tapping into, and ultimately respecting these local resources ;-)

While I think of it, for anyone considering collecting local spring water, this site is a great resource. Alternatively for UK-centric ancient holy wells try megalithic :-)