The village of Proven is in West Flanders and belongs to the municipality of Poperinge. The Lourdes grotto in Proven is beautifully situated, on the edge of the built-up area, in a wooded environment.
The grotto was built out of gratitude by the inhabitants of Proven because the residents and the village emerged from the Second World War (1939-1945) largely unscathed. The structure is a three-quarters scale replica of the original grotto in Lourdes, France.
The Lourdes grotto was blessed on 8 September 1946, the feast of the Nativity of Mary. Above the statue of Mary in the high niche of the grotto is the text “I am the Immaculate Conception”. An image of the visionary Bernadette Soubirous is also present in the grotto and, unlike many grottoes, she is depicted praying, standing and not kneeling. This also makes the grotto special, as do the ex-votos giving thanks to Mary that have been placed against the boulders. In front of the Lourdes grotto is a bench, upon which visitors can sit to get a good view of the whole.
In 1981 the grotto sustains a lot of damage due to a collapse. Subsequently, the Lourdes grotto is rebuilt using natural stone from Dijon in France.
Address: St. Alexusplein, behind St. Victor's Church, opposite school building De Kastanje at number 15a, 8972 Proven.
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