Thanks to the mobilization of the teams at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Grotto has been cleaned and reopened to pilgrims, following the floods that occurred today, Saturday September 7, 2024.
Celebrations will resume at the usual times, in all the Sanctuary’s basilicas and places of worship, starting with the 6pm rosary at the Grotto today-Saturday September 7.
No pilgrimages have been cancelled.
Water infiltration in the baths requires a complete clean-up and a check of the facilities, resulting in a postponement of the reopening by a few days.
The Chapels of Light will reopen tomorrow, Sunday September 8.
In the emergency, the flood protection plan proved its effectiveness and limited the damage.
However, in addition to the Chapelles de Lumière and the Sanctuary’s swimming pools, which were heavily affected by the flooding, the bridges crossing the Gave de Pau into the Sanctuary were also weakened. The most serious damage was caused by the sinking of the dam on the Gave itself, which was used to modernize the hydroelectric power station. The power station generates 50% of the Sanctuary’s electricity needs.
The pictures of the morning of September 7, 2024:
