Given – Lourdes Cave

The town of Givet is located in the Ardennes, in the far north of France, on the left bank of the river Meuse, near the border with Belgium.

In the Église Saint-Hilaire (church of Saint-Hilarius), there is a chapel with references to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes. In the center stands a large Lourdes statue of Mary, and beneath this image there are references to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes on both sides. On the images, on the left is the grotto of Lourdes with the apparition of Mary to Bernadette Soubirous, and on the right are the basilicas of the shrine. Above the statue of Our Lady are the French words “Je suis l’Immaculée Conception” (I am the Immaculate Conception).

The church was destroyed in 1675 by a French attack on the then “Spanish” town of Givet. The current church was built in 1682-1683. In 1696 the church was again severely damaged by hostilities and was completely restored in 1702.

The famous French writer Victor Hugo (1802-1885) also wrote about the bell tower of the church of Saint-Hilaire in Givet in 1838.

The church's address is Rue Saint-Hilaire/Place Carnot, 08600 Givet.

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