The Forbidden Cave...

I have been to Lourdes about nine or ten times now, and it is still my favourite "holiday" location. I have, in the past, been down the side of the hill to the grotto (the tortuous, zig-zag path is the only way in and out of the Domaine once the main gates are shut) and I've been to the High Stations on the Espelugues Hill, but not for many years; my knee and ankle problems have stopped me from being adventurous...

I didn't realise that there was actually a cave at the end of the High Stations where people used to celebrate Mass, nor that it was "forbidden" to large groups since an earthquake (though this is debated amongst the chaplains). In actual fact, I had no idea that there had been any earthquake in the area since the Apparitions 150 years ago.

The cave is secured by iron railings. Fr. George, a chaplain at Lourdes, has managed to explore the cave a little, and has made the following video... I notice that he doesn't mention exactly how he managed to get in, but I presume that, as a chaplain, he was able to get the key rather than scrambling over the railings...

As well as the video (which is about 15 minutes long) there is also the blog, Immaculataconceptio, which allows you to make a daily virtual pilgrimage to the shrine. The official Lourdes website can be found HERE.