In the garden of the Sint-Vincentius retirement home, there is a Lourdes grotto. The statue of Mary is located in a niche at a height of approximately 2 metres. Below this are the words in the local dialect of the Lourdes region that Mary spoke to Bernadette Soubirous when the young seer asked who She was. Unfortunately, the image of Bernadette is missing here. However, there is a small stone from the original grotto in Lourdes, France.
A square with benches has been laid out in front of the Lourdes grotto. This gives visitors a beautiful view of the grotto, allowing them to pray, rest, and reflect. Near the grotto, a stone bears a reference to the Sisters of Opwijk. The entire area has a well-maintained appearance.
On a memorial stone, affixed to a short tree trunk, there is a dedication to the Sisters of Saint Vincent of Opwijk, who had the garden, the Kruisbospark, laid out. The nursing sisters of Antwerp Care and Living had the park redeveloped. Visual artist Gilbert Uitgehouwen (*1942) made artistic contributions to this.
The park is also home to animals, such as geese, roe deer, goats, and chickens. A visit to the Lourdes Grotto coupled with enjoying the park is a recommended outing.
Address: Kapellensteenweg 81, 2920 Kalmthout.
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