Banholt is a Limburg village in the municipality of Eijsden-Margraten and lies on the Margraten Plateau. In the centre of the village stands the monumental Saint Gerlachus Church. On the north side of the church, on Dalestraat, lies a well-maintained Lourdes Grotto between two tall, thick beech trees.
The Grotto of Mary is situated on a fenced plot of land. A kneeling Bernadette and a standing Mary in the niche of the grotto are beautifully depicted. The large rosary, which is attached to the grotto, is striking. The grotto is well-maintained; volunteers have looked after the Lourdes Grotto for decades.
The grotto was built in 1911. That year, the summer was very dry and very hot. As a result, the local wells ran dry. Some farmers from Banholt and Terhorst met and decided to invoke the help of Our Lady and build a grotto for Her. The necessary stones were taken from the Banholter Grubbe. The fervent plea of the farmers to Mary was answered, because as the last stones were being laid, it began to rain heavily. The grotto was blessed on 17 September 1911. This information can be found on a commemorative plaque from the “Committee Lourdesgrotto 100 Years”.
Opposite the church, on the other side of the Bredeweg, stands a large, white statue of Mary on a brick plinth. The text beneath the likeness reads: “O.L.VR. VAN FATIMA B.V.O.”. The large Fatima statue was made by Tonny Heijnen and was consecrated in 1948.
