Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception

The Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception (French: Basilique de Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée-Conception de Lourdes), known widely as the "Upper Church", is a Catholic church and minor basilica within the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes in France.

Basilica of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception of Lourdes Notre-Dame de l'Immaculée-Conception de Lourdes (in French)
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Minor basilica, National Shrine
Year consecrated	1876
Location
Location	Lourdes
Geographic coordinates	43°5′50.5″N 0°3′30.1″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Hippolyte Durand
Type	Church
Style	Neo-Gothic
Groundbreaking	1862
Completed	1871
Specifications
Capacity	550[1]
Length	51 metres (167 ft)
Width	21 metres (69 ft)
Height (max)	70 metres (230 ft)
Website
Official website

View of the Basilica constructed on top of the rock above the Grotto of Lourdes

History

Constructed between 1862 and 1871^[2] and consecrated in 1876, it was the second of the churches to be completed at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes. The church was built on top of the rock above the Lourdes grotto and next to the Basilica of our Lady of the Rosary.

Designed by architect Hippolyte Durand, the Neo-Gothic church seems to emerge directly from the rock of Massabielle.

Description

Exterior

The exterior is dominated by a 70 metres (230 ft) spire, and two lesser spires (not completed until 1908). Above the entrance is a mosaic depicting Pope Pius IX, who defined the dogma of the Immaculate Conception in 1854.

The clock plays the Ave Maria hourly, and chimes the hours with a 2-tonne bell called Jeanne-Alphonsine. The other bells in the tower are named Geneviève-Félicie (weighing 1800 kg), Hermine-Benoîte (1100 kg), and Cécile-Gastine (800 kg).

Interior

The walls are lined with ex voto plaques, and banners from official National Pilgrimages of the past. It has a series of stained glass windows depicting various events in the story of Lourdes, and the clerestory windows depict Mary as the Second Eve.