The Lourdes Chapel, also called the Our Lady of Lourdes Chapel, stands on the plateau in Kerkrade, in the Vink district. The chapel is located on a square with trees at the bend where Joseph Rietrastraat and Bernard Pothaststraat meet. It is a special chapel with a Lourdes grotto inside.
The first Lourdes chapel was built in 1905 on Sint-Pieterstraat. Later, the chapel was damaged by mining operations and was demolished in 1946. In 1946, a new chapel was built, 100 metres from the demolished Mary chapel. The construction was commissioned by the management of the Laura mine, a coal mine in Eygelshoven that was active from 1905 to 1968, and the Saint John Berchmans Young Men's Association. The Lourdes chapel was a gift from the mine management to the residents of the Vink district.
The octagonal, brick chapel has a wrought-iron cross on its slate roof that originally belonged to the Lourdes chapel, which was demolished in 1946. There is an iron railing in front of the entrance. Inside the chapel, there is a natural stone Lourdes grotto with a rear wall. In front of the grotto stands an altar made of rubble stone (irregularly shaped stones). The image of Mary is placed in a niche. Our Lady has her hands clasped and is looking upwards. Mary is depicted barefoot, as she was during the apparitions in Lourdes in southern France in 1858. To the left of the image of Mary, there is a depiction of the praying and kneeling Bernadette Soubirous, who met Mary in Lourdes 18 times. The grotto is decorated with flowers and gives a well-maintained impression. Benches have been placed in front of the chapel, making it even more pleasant to stay at this special Lourdes chapel.
Address: Joseph Rietrastraat, at the bend with Bernard Pothaststraat in Kerkrade.
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