Pilgrimage sites in Belgium – Bassenge/Bitsingen

History

The idea of what eventually came to be known as Klein-Lourdes came from the zealous François Nouwen (1832-1902), who had a great devotion to Our Lady. He was chaplain in Saint-Jean in Liège and became seriously ill. When it became possible, he went to the pilgrimage site of Lourdes in the south of France. There he came upon the cave where Mary appeared to Bernadette Soubirous in 1858. The priest became completely absorbed in the atmosphere of the shrine. On returning to Liège, François Nouwen recovered completely. He is convinced that the healing is due to Mary. François Nouwen has always been a great devotee of Our Lady of Lourdes. Out of gratitude, he devised a plan to build a cave that closely resembled the one in Lourdes. François Nouwen went to Lourdes at a time when it was not at all easy. It was a multi-day journey to get to the destination, and in addition, the man was far from healthy. The return journey undoubtedly went more smoothly because he had fully recovered. Upon his return, François Nouwen placed a statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the church in Liège.

In 1875 François Nouwen becomes pastor in Bitsingen and remains so until 1902. In 1876 the pastor places a Lourdes statue in the church. When François Nouwen is working in Bitsingen for a while, he sees an opportunity to put his idea of creating a Lourdes grotto into practice. Thanks to donations of money and other gifts, it is possible to make the construction of the Lourdes grotto possible. The dedication of the grotto takes place on December 8, 1889; the day of the Immaculate Conception. This is done by Martinus-Hubertus Rutten (1841-1927), vicar-general (1879-1901) and later bishop of Liège (1901-1927).

In 1895, two paths were laid out on the hill above the Lourdes grotto with 15 chapels containing the secrets of the Rosary. The chapels were made of sandstone and flint. Chapels for saints were also built here. Due to these additions, the number of visitors has increased dramatically. Bishop Rutten decided that Pastor Nouwen would be assisted by members of the congregation of the Religious of the Holy Sacrament, who settled in 1902 in Bitsingen. These friars manage the procession park and build a monastery on the hill with a chapel, whose dedication took place in 1904. In 1905, a crossway was built.

In the first decades, many visitors come who are unable to make the journey to the Shrine of Lourdes in the south of France. The place is then called “Lourdes of the poor” or “Little Lourdes”.

In 1956 a new chapel is built on the hill. The number of priests decreases and at the end of the sixties the priests leave because their small number and age make it impossible to carry out the many activities. Due to the departure of the priests and the change of the Language Act in 1962, the pilgrimage site rapidly declines. There is backlog of maintenance and activities have ceased. On the site of the monastery a protected workshop “Le val du Geer” and a home for the disabled (La Cerisaie) are built.

In 1989 the association “Les Amis du Petit Lourdes” (the Friends of Little Lourdes) was founded. The objectives of the association are to maintain and keep alive the pilgrimage site. Soon after the “Friends” were founded, the Marian place of pilgrimage came to life.

In 1994, new chapels were built, dedicated to the secrets of the Rosary.

A new chapel was blessed in 2008 by Bishop Aloys Jousten (1937-2021), Bishop of Liège (2001-2013).

Pilgrimage site

In Klein Lourdes, you can not only visit the impressive Lourdes grotto, but also the crossway and chapels on the hill. This is more than just a procession park of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Lourdes grotto, the crossway and the chapels are beautifully situated in a wooded and hilly environment.,

In the upper part of the large Lourdes grotto stands the image of Mary and the rosary gives the French text “Je suis l’Immaculée Conception” (I am the Immaculate Conception). In the lower part of the grotto candles are burning and next to the grotto there is a large board with thanksgivings to Our Lady on it. A statue of visionary Bernadette Soubirous is missing. The Lourdes grotto forms an important part of the pilgrimage site “Le Petit Lourdes” (Small Lourdes).

The pilgrimage site can receive many visitors, and for this purpose, many benches have been placed in front of the Lourdes grotto.

In the pilgrimage site, inexplicable healings have been reported. Many visitors experience moral and spiritual support from Mary. This suggests that miracles are occurring in Little Lourdes.

In the chapel, which was built next to the Lourdes grotto, there is nothing to indicate any connection to Lourdes. What a shame!

Around the day of Mary's Assumption, August 15, there are festivities in the pilgrimage site.

There is plenty of parking space. There are plenty of walking trails in the area.

ACCESSIBILITY

Bassenge/Bitsingen is located in the province of Liège, near Maastricht and not far from the border with the Netherlands.

Address: Rue Nouwen 14, 4690 Bassenge/Bitsingen.

Up-to-date information can be found by visiting www.upvalleedugeer.be.

Experience

With a curious feeling, I drive to Bassenge/Bitsingen. Today I experience what Pastor François Nouwen has started and developed. The Lourdes Cave beckons every visitor, and by accepting this invitation I immediately head towards it.

What a magnificent example of the Lourdes Grotto that reminds me of the shrine in Lourdes, France! How good it feels to be here! I take a seat on a bench and fix my eyes on the statue of Mary in the upper part of the grotto. It’s as if I were in the Shrine of Lourdes in southern France. What a beautiful experience that is! I pray and my thoughts turn to a friend with serious health problems.

After about half an hour, I get up and head up the hill to see the stations of the cross and chapels. The route of the cross is long, with not only stations but also chapels that urgently need restoration. Funds are being collected for this by the “Amis de Lourdes” (Friends of Lourdes).

A little later, I visit the chapel that stands beside the Lourdes grotto. Unfortunately, there is no trace of Lourdes here.

During my visit, I noticed restoration work on two chapels. The association of Friends is raising money for this purpose.

After praying in the chapel to Mary and thanking her for my life, I am filled with the thought: “What an enrichment it is to be here for a moment!”

Environment

From Leuven to Bassenge/Bitsingen, it is 18 km to the north.

Leaving Hasselt and arriving in Bassenge/Bitsingen, requires traveling 35 km southeast.

Leaving Maastricht and coming to Bassenge Bitsingen means going 30 km southwest.

Traveling from the pilgrimage site of Banneux to that of Bassenge/Bitsingen involves a 55 km drive to the northwest.

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