The Maria Park, complete with a Lourdes Grotto, Old Tower, Stations of the Cross, and a large statue of Mary, is situated between Oude Kerkstraat and Vissersstraat, with an entrance on Vissersstraat. Local residents built the Maria Park in the years 1960-1961.
In the Lourdes Grotto, there is a large statue of Mary in a niche, about three metres high. In front of the effigy of Our Lady, a small statue of the visionary Bernadette Soubirous has been placed. It is noteworthy that the effigy of Bernadette is placed to the right of the statue of Mary, whereas this is usually to the left of the Immaculate Conception. Next to the well-maintained grotto are two altar tables, one in the niche of the grotto and the other a few metres in front of it.
At the Lourdes grotto, candles are often lit, and people frequently sit on the benches in front of the grotto to pray and/or to be with Mary in their thoughts.
In 1988, the Mariapark with its Lourdes grotto was restored.
On the grounds of Mariapark, there is also a large effigy of Our Lady of Banneux, the Virgin of the Poor. The statue stands under a stone arch. Flowers adorn the statue of the Virgin of the Poor.
Opposite the Lourdes Grotto stands the Old Tower, which was restored from 2005 to 2006. This square tower made of marlstone is a remnant of a former church. The lower part of the tower, dating from 1250, remains, and it was built with Maas gravel. The upper part of the robust remnant dates from 1550. The tower belonged to the Saint Martin's Church. This church was built in 1250 on the site of a former sanctuary. In 1550, Saint Martin's Church and its tower were repaired and enlarged. A fire destroyed the church in 1556, but the tower suffered little damage. The church was rebuilt in 1617. Around 1910, the church was demolished, and the tower remained. A church was built in its place in the centre of Dilsen. In 2005/2006, the tower underwent restoration.
In the chapel, at the bottom of the tower, you can find information about the past of the tower and church. Since approximately 800 AD, people have been buried on this site. An impressive tomb lies in the middle of the tower chapel, bearing the inscription: “To the blessed memory of their ancestors, the inhabitants of Dilsen created this Maria Park in 1960-61. May the holy place where the altar and church stood for over eleven centuries remain dear to posterity. This tomb is filled with the remains of our ancestors buried in this churchyard from 800-1920. They shall arise”.
In the tower chapel, there is a Lourdes statue on a console next to the tomb. The chapel also displays the text of the “Prayer to Our Lady of Victory,” and candles can be lit there.
The well-maintained Maria Park with its Lourdes Grotto and Old Tower has a long history, which makes the stay even more special.
In the immediate vicinity, there are walking and cycling opportunities, including along the Oude Maas. Parking is available 200 metres away in Vissersstraat on the banks of the Oude Maas river.
The entrance to Mariapark is located on Vissersstraat in Dilsen, in the east of the province of Limburg.
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