Brandivy – Lourdes Grotto

In Brandivy, you can visit a Lourdes grotto and a chapel of Our Lady of Lourdes. This is a pilgrimage site with many visitors.

Carved into a natural, towering rock face, the image of Mary stands at a height of approximately 10 metres. This rock face was discovered in 1912 by Father Le Leuch, who noted a similarity to the rock at Lourdes. The priest then had a Lourdes statue placed in a niche in the rock. He named the rock with the statue of Mary “little Lourdes”.

Next to the rock face with the statue of Our Lady stands a large wooden cross. Many ex-votos have been affixed to the rock face; these are tokens of gratitude to Mary. At the foot of the rock is a spring and a statue of the visionary Bernadette Soubirous has been placed. Below the rock face flows a small river named “le Loc'h”. The similarities with the situation at Lourdes are therefore great, namely a natural rock face, niche, spring, and river. A Way of the Cross has also been laid out near the grotto.

Since 1977, there has been an annual procession with a festival called “Pardon de la Grotte Notre-Dame de Lourdes”.

On 13 September 1998, a chapel was consecrated named “Chapelle Notre-Dame de Lourdes”. This was done by François-Mathurin Gourvès (1929-2020), Bishop of Vannes (1991-2005). The chapel was an initiative of parish priest Ambroise Guillo (1926-2017). The land for the chapel was a gift to the initiator. The chapel can accommodate 450 pilgrims. Candles are often lit by the Lourdes statue in the church. The place of worship also features stained-glass windows, created by Didier Brillouet (*1974).

Behind the chapel is a spring and prayer space with a statue of Saint Joseph.

Opposite the cave on the bank of the river Le Loc'h stands a watermill.

In the Brandivy region, there are hiking opportunities.

Brandivy is located in western Brittany, in a wooded area, and belongs to the Morbihan department. The Lourdes grotto and chapel are situated on the D103 road, at Rue de la Vallée du Loch, 56390 Brandivy.

A visit to Brandivy is highly recommended!

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In the vicinity of Brandivy lies the pilgrimage site of Saint Anne, the Mother of Mary; Sainte-Anne d’Auray. From Brandivy to Sainte-Anne d’Auray is a 15-kilometre journey southwards.

The historic city of Vannes can also be visited. Statues of Mary can be admired in the cathedral, “Cathédrale Saint-Pierre,“ and the church, ”Église Saint-Patern." In Vannes, there is also a Lourdes church, Église Notre-Dame de Lourdes, at 37 Rue Lindbergh, built in 1960. In this more modern church, there is a stone from the actual grotto of Lourdes. Vannes is located 30 kilometres south of Brandivy.

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